McEvoy hopes mother knows best at Rio
Mother knows best.
And it seems Australia's Cameron McEvoy is counting on it after emerging as the Rio Olympic 100m freestyle gold medal favourite.
McEvoy clocked the third fastest 100m time ever to claim gold at the Rio trials in Adelaide on Monday night.
It was just 0.13 of a second outside Brazil's Cesar Cielo's world record set in a now banned supersuit in 2009.
McEvoy's effort was the fastest ever in a textile suit, eclipsing compatriot and dual world champion James Magnussen's 47.10 at the 2012 trials.
Even faster than Eamon Sullivan's 2008 previous national record (47.05) also in a supersuit.
It's enough to do anyone's head in.
Enter McEvoy's mum.
McEvoy, 21, said he would rely on his psychologist mother to ensure he was in the right mindset ahead of a final assault on a Rio gold medal that now appears his to lose.
"I've stepped up the mental preparation leading into this competition," McEvoy said.
"That's being more involved with my mum and being more vocal about how I am feeling mentally.
"And that will continue into Rio no doubt."
McEvoy knows Olympic 100m gold medal favourites can't take anything for granted.
Magnussen looked primed to become the first Australian male since Michael Wenden at Mexico 1968 to win Olympic 100m gold at London.
He was pipped by 0.01 of a second for gold by American Nathan Adrian.
And Sullivan set a new world record in the Beijing Olympic 100m semi-finals, only to be relegated to silver.
"There is a history of world No.1s not coming out with the gold and the Olympics is notorious for not always producing the best time to win it," McEvoy said.
"The mental game you play before stepping up to the blocks is beyond anything.
"I'm very much aware of that."
McEvoy's mother has already helped him overcome major mental hurdles.
At just 17, McEvoy was publicly shamed as a member of the 4x100m freestyle relay team which admitted to abusing sleeping pills at the ill-fated London Olympics.
McEvoy admitted his mother proved the difference after experiencing anxiety at the following 2013 world titles trials.
"I spoke to mum and she helped bring me back to reality - that helped me a lot," McEvoy said of his 2013 campaign.
McEvoy has not looked back since.
But he will be looking over his shoulder at Rio.
"I am aware rivals will be fired up and getting ready to get back into training at 5am just to beat me," he said of his world beating time.
"I can't sit back and relax. I have got a lot to do."
MAKING A SPLASH - THE FASTEST MEN IN 100M FREESTYLE HISTORY AFTER CAMERON MCEVOY'S RIO TRIALS WIN
Cesar Cielo (Bra) 46.91 2009*
Alain Bernard (Fra) 46.94 2009*
Cameron McEvoy (Aus) 47.04 2016
Eamon Sullivan (Aus) 47.05 2008*
James Magnussen (Aus) 47.10 2012
Fred Bousquet (Fra) 47.15 2009*
FASTEST AUSTRALIAN MEN IN 100M FREESTYLE HISTORY
Cameron McEvoy 47.04 2016
Eamon Sullivan 47.05 2008*
James Magnussen 47.10 2012
James Roberts 47.63 2012
Matt Targett 47.88 2008*
Kyle Chalmers 48.03 2016
*denotes in now-banned supersuit