SWIMMING: Coach Richard Scarce has said Cam McEvoy is relishing the warmer weather and training well after settling into the Australian Swim Team’s pre-Olympic staging camp at Auburn University in Alabama. 

“It’s been great, beautiful weather and it’s been lovely to get out of the winter back home, not that it’s that bad! We’ve been here about a week now and it’s taken a little bit to adjust but he has had a pretty good set today. We’ve done all the work we need to do really at home and now it’s just a polish up and adjust to the time-zone,” Scarce said. 

“There’s a great team vibe and the guys are very relaxed around each other and there’s no sort of pressure to feel as though they have to perform here; it’s all about getting ready together as a team and going in to give it our best.” 

After making the decision to drop the 200m freestyle from his program, Scarce said that McEvoy is relieved to have made the decision but hasn’t changed his approach to the Games as he knows he still has a job to do in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay. 

“Just more relief than anything, that we have made the decision and moved on from there. It was always a tough one but really there’s no regrets or anything like that. It’s on with the work, nothing’s changed, if anything he’s been keeping himself really honest with all the work and of course you know, he’s still got that 4x200m relay. That’s a huge chance for the boys to do well and work together as a team. They’re a good bunch of guys, so he is keen to do his best.” 

There was an informal team dinner last night and the final countdown continues with the team set to leave for Rio next Sunday, July 31.

Kathleen Rayment 
Swimming Australia