'Take a bow': Australia's Cam McEvoy breaks 50m freestyle world record
Cameron McEvoy is officially the world's fastest, after the Australian broke the 17-year 50 metres freestyle world record at the China Swimming Open in Shenzhen.
The reigning Olympic and world champion posted a time of 20.88 seconds, shaving 0.03 seconds off Brazilian César Cielo's previous mark.
Cielo's record was set when high-tech swim suits were in use in 2009, but they have since been banned.
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McEvoy is the first Australian to achieve the feat since Eamon Sullivan broke the world record three times in 2008.
Cameron McEvoy breaks the 50m freestyle record. Getty
"I knew I had a chance to do a PB (personal best)," McEvoy said.
"My old PB was 21.06, so maybe 20.99? But doing 20.88 is unreal. It's crazy.
"The 50 metres, I look at it as a strength-based skill. It's different to the other events in swimming.
"A lot more strength and power is involved, and men peak in strength into their 30s — well into their 30s."
Cielo took to social media to pay tribute to the Aussie: "Congrats, Cam. Lightning fast swim! Incredible!
"I saw a phrase a while ago that perfectly captures what you've been doing.
"You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete. Congratulations!"
McEvoy celebrates. Getty
This was in reference to McEvoy's approach to training in recent years, where he spent more time in the gym room bulking up.
"Power power and more power! What a swim from Cam McEvoy!" swimming correspondent Ian Hanson wrote on social media.
"Take a bow … takes down one of swimming's longest standing world marks- after 17 years and a Supersuit mark to boot! And how special to have his wife and son in the stands! Couldn't happen to a nicer guy! Believe and you achieve!"
The official social media profile of World Aquatics posted the swim was "close to perfection".
The time of 20.88 is even 0.01sec faster than the unofficial time set by Kristian Gkolomeev at an Enhanced Games sponsored event last year.