Cameron McEvoy feeling ‘horrible’ in the water ahead of Rio Olympics ... but still hitting his times

CAMERON McEvoy looks a million bucks but feels like a five cent piece as he prepares for his final meeting before the Olympic Games.

Australian Olympic swimming sensation Cameron McEvoy is getting ready to leave for Rio.

CAMERON McEvoy looks a million bucks but feels like a five cent piece as he prepares for his final meeting before the Olympic Games.

McEvoy has lost all feeling in the water is mired in a flat spell in training that he has not experienced before.

But McEvoy is not hitting the panic button. His times in training are still bang on the money but he just feels “absolutely horrible” in the water.

For someone with his analytical brain it is a feeling he is struggling to comprehend.

“I fell into a hole pretty much at the start of my quality week last week,” McEvoy said.

“It’s really odd, it’s never happened to me in my career before so I’m not sure what to make of it analytically.

“It’s not as bad as doing bad times and feeling bad because at least I hit my times. It’s frustrating not being able to feel good and not being able to feel like how it’s going to feel in Rio.

“I’ve never gone into a competition such as the grand prix this weekend feeling as bad as I have for as long as I have.’’

It is exactly two weeks until McEvoy flies out for the Olympics, stopping for a staging camp in the US on the way.

McEvoy is out of sorts but still recording times that make him a gold medal favourite

In one of his final duties before going to Rio, McEvoy helped launch Mercedes-Benz sponsorship of the Brisbane Night Noodle Market.

He plans to race the 50m-100m-200m freestyle events at the grand prix meeting on Friday and Saturday as well as at least two relay swims.

He is ready for Rio but knows the next few weeks will be crucial to winning gold.

“I’d always like more time but also I think I’m ready,” he said.

“Obviously there are still the most important things to do like taper and getting things right at the end, but from what I’ve done I couldn’t be happier with it.’’

McEvoy has kept a close eye on times posted at the US Olympic trials where Michael Phelps qualified for his fifth Olympic team.

The big development was the 47.91 sec heat swim by McEvoy’s 100m freestyle rival, reigning Olympic champion Nathan Adrian, that has put a small jolt through the Gold Coast sprinter.

McEvoy knows Adrian has the potential to shock a race favourite, as he did when beating James Magnussen in London four years ago, so he is not underestimating what his rivals can produce in Rio when competition starts in August.

Rio Farewell Grand Prix at Brisbane Aquatic Centre, Chandler

Friday: Heats (10am), Finals (6pm)

Saturday: Heats (10am), Finals (6pm)

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