Australia’s highly-rated Cameron McEvoy said yesterday he will drop the 200m freestyle from his swimming programme at next month’s Rio Olympics to be fresher for the relays.
McEvoy, ranked sixth in the world in the event this year, said he made his decision after consultation with his coach Richard Scarce and national head coach Jacco Verhaeren.
He had planned to swim in six disciplines in Brazil — the 50m, 100m, 200m freestyle and the three relays.
“It’s been a decision that Richard (Scarce) and I have spent a lot of time thinking about,” McEvoy said.
“It wasn’t an easy decision to make, especially seeing I have been doing the 200m freestyle internationally for so long and it has been one of my favourite and main events for my entire swimming career.”
McEvoy said he reached his decision before leaving for a US training camp in Auburn, Alabama, last Friday.
“We have had to take a step back and look at the bigger picture of the entire week and remember that I am only human and that I do have my limitations,” he added.
“If the programme was more like the world championship years then I am sure I would not be pulling out of the 200m free.
“Unfortunately it’s not and it is on the same day as the 4x100m freestyle relay and the 4x200m is the same day as the 100m freestyle.”
McEvoy said he would now be fresher for the 4x100m freestyle heats on the second day of competition and on day four for the 4x200m heats. David McKeon, who finished third to dead-heaters McEvoy and Thomas Fraser Holmes in the event at the national trials, will take McEvoy’s spot in the individual 200m freestyle at Rio.
Accordign to Australia national head coach Jacco Verhaeren, McEvoy has made a “wise’’ decision.
“Cam is really a 100m swimmer with a great 50m and a great 200m but his focus is on the 100m. If the 100m was first I am pretty sure Cam would have done the 200m too, but in this order it becomes very difficult,’’ Verhaeren said.
All four events are now compressed into four days, whereas they were spread over five days back in 2000.
“I can’t think of anyone else in the top eight in the 100m freestyle who makes that combination with the 200m now,’’ Verhaeren said.
“The training is very possible but in competition it’s a tough one. At the (Olympic) trials he could qualify more easily for the finals and he didn’t have to do the relays, but he won’t be able to do that in Rio.