Cameron McEvoy was impressive even in defeat

CAMERON McEvoy had a horror swim in the 100m final, but managed to impress everyone with what he did out of the water.

IT WAS a dream and a nightmare all in one.

Australia’s newest superfish Kyle Chalmerswon gold in the 100m freestyle on Thursday afternoon (AEST), coming from nowhere to edge out the field after turning in seventh place at the halfway mark.

It was an epic swim from the 18-year-old, but only served to highlight how different the story was for compatriot Cameron McEvoy. Along with Mack Horton, McEvoy was the bright young face of our swim team in Rio.

He lived up to expectations in the 4x100m freestyle relay, anchoring the race with a blistering split to salvage a bronze medal after slower-than-expected swims from James Roberts and James Magnussen before him.

But he couldn’t replicate that from in the individual event.

The 22-year-old finished a disappointing seventh after qualifying third fastest for the final. He was well back at the start, but unlike Chalmers, couldn’t chase anyone down in the back 50.

Despite how gutted he must have been, McEvoy fronted up to Channel Seven’s Nathan Templeton after the race. Rather than wallow in self-pity, he made sure his teammate got all the attention he deserved.

“Not the best (race). My preparation was good all year round and it was probably just the last week or so I imagine that has probably thrown me,” McEvoy said.

“But enough about me. Kyle’s come in and done another PB on top of the PB he did at the (Olympic) trials. He’s just turned 18 and he’s an Olympic champion — that’s bloody wonderful isn’t it.”

A class act from a classy guy. And everyone knew it.

Take a bow Cam McEvoy - brilliantly spoken post race. You'd be pretty happy to have a teammate like that #allclass @AUSOlympicTeam

— Caty Price (@caty_price) August 11, 2016

Cam McEvoy take a bow. That post race interview was sportsmanship at its finest 👏🏼 #Rio2016

— Abbey Gelmi (@abbey_gelmi) August 11, 2016

Chalmers incredible, but how's Cam McEvoy's grace in the face of what must be crushing disappointment? Absolute class. #Rio2016

— Peter Hanlon (@PeterGHanlon) August 11, 2016

Cam McEvoy great sportsmanship. Ate his disappointment and gave Kyle Chalmers a magnificent tribute. #champ. #Rio2016

— Cameron Williams (@camjwilliams) August 11, 2016

Cam McEvoy obviously disappointed but so humble in defeat. Great sportsmanship. #Rio2016 #Olympics

— Nat Edwards (@Nat_Edwards) August 11, 2016

Amazing chat then with Cam McEvoy. Must have been heartbroken but was keeping the focus on Chalmers. What a champ #Rio2016

— Morgan Kasmarik (@MorganKasmarik) August 11, 2016

McEvoy’s failure to place will surely heap pressure on Australia’s swim coaches, who decided to rest him from Wednesday’s 4x200m freestyle relay as well as the individual 200m event.

The thinking behind that was to keep him in the best possible shape to push for gold in the 100. Obviously, that plan didn’t pan out so well.

The Aussie 200m relay team finished fourth without him — just 0.68 seconds from a bronze medal.

A look at the splits of Thomas Fraser-Holmes, David McKeon, Daniel Smith and Mack Horton shows Australia would have been much closer to a medal if McEvoy had been allowed to swim.

In April he finished equal first in the 200m freestyle event during the Australian Swimming Championships in Adelaide.

His time of 1:45.63 at that meet was 1.74 seconds faster than the time Australia’s third swimmer Smith (1:47.37) produced in the Rio pool on Wednesday.

Horton (1:45.37), McKeon (1:45.63) and Fraser-Holmes (1:45.81) all swam under 106 seconds in the final.

If Smith’s time had been replaced by McEvoy’s, Australia would have narrowly been edged by silver-medallists Britain.

McEvoy said he wanted to swim the relay, but was overruled.

“That was the decision of a group of coaches and that includes Jacco (Verhaeren) the head coach,” he told Channel 7.

“When it comes from a bunch of coaches with such a wealth of experience, I trust their decision. I respect it and I understand it too.”

There’s always the possibility Verhaeren and co could sense McEvoy was cooked, which is why they opted not to swim him in the relay.

But for now, it’s time to celebrate Chalmers.

Bromance.

Originally published as Cameron McEvoy was impressive even in defeat