See all of our 2023 Swammy Awards here.
COMEBACK SWIMMER OF THE YEAR: CAM MCEVOY
After taking a year-long break following the the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Cam McEvoy came back as a different beast in 2023.
Rested and rejuvenated by new hobbies such as weight lifting and rock climbing, the 29-year-old Australian started his revenge tour at the Sydney Open in May, where he clocked a 21.85 50 free that marked the fastest time by an Aussie in the event since McEvoy’s 21.81 in the semifinals of the 2017 World Championships.
“In that year off post-Tokyo, it was the first time in my life that I was free to do basically whatever I wanted,” McEvoy said. “Didn’t have a swimming schedule, didn’t have commitments in the swimming world, so to speak.”
The next month, he threw down a personal-best 21.27 in the 50 free prelims at Australian Trials in June, knocking more than a tenth off his previous-best 21.44 from the 2016 Australian Olympic Trials.
Despite being the top-ranked swimmer globally in the 50 free heading into the 2023 World Championships, there were still questions about McEvoy’s ability to get the job done on the big stage. Many of his best swims historically had come during the prelims or semis of the 50 free, a race known for its unpredictability. His breakout 21.44 at the 2016 Australian Olympic Trials would have medaled at the Rio 2016 Olympics, but he missed the final with a 21.89 in semis.
In Fukuoka, Japan, McEvoy left no doubt about who the top sprinter in the world is at the moment, winning his first world title with a personal-best 21.06 that made him the fourth-fastest performer of all time. He was just .02 seconds off of Caeleb Dressel‘s textile world record (21.04), and only .15 seconds off of Cesar Cielo‘s world record (20.91) from 2009. McEvoy’s .51-second margin of victory was the largest ever in a men’s 50 free final at Worlds, surpassing Dressel’s .41-second gap in 2019. The triumph made him the first Australian man to medal in the 50 free at Worlds since Michael Klim in 1998.
Last December at the 2022 Queensland State Championships, McEvoy talked about extending his career another decade if his body holds up in terms of injuries. At the time, the idea seemed far-fetched. But he has exceeded all expectations this year and proved his words prophetic thanks to his work with Somerville House head coach Tim Lane, who has embraced McEvoy’s different approach to training.
Within four weeks of training at the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS), McEvoy’s time from a dive to 15 meters reduced by .4 seconds. Lane was exposed to lots of resistance training during his NCAA experience as both a swimmer (UNCW) and coach (Villanova and Notre Dame), and he has introduced McEvoy to new ways of approaching the sport. If their partnership keeps paying dividends next year as it did in 2023, McEvoy should be the favorite at the Paris 2024 Olympics — even if Dressel is back to form.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
- Regan Smith, United States – The 21-year-old American bounced back in 2023 with four individual medals at the 2023 World Championships after earning just one last year. Smith’s move from Stanford to Arizona State’s pro group under Bob Bowman last August paid dividends as she broke a supersuited American record in June with a 2:03.87 200 fly. The next month, she placed swept the silver medals in all three backstroke events (27.11/57.78/2:04.94) behind Australia’s Kaylee McKeown while also adding a bronze in the 200 fly (2:06.58). “Going from Stanford to being in Arizona, I feel like I’ve done a 180 in terms of confidence and physical preparation,” Smith told the Minneapolis Star Tribune before Worlds. “I’m in the best shape of my life. I just feel so much more confident. I enjoy swimming so much every day, and I’ve found a new appreciation for the sport.”
- James Guy, Britain – At 28 years old, Guy captured silver in the SCM 200 free (1:41.12) at the 2023 European Short Course Championships, marking his first individual podium appearance at a major international meet since 2020. It was his first time earning a medal in the 200 free since the 2016 European Long Course Championships. Guy lowered his lifetime best by .99 seconds, clearing a time done at the 2019 European Short Course Championships. “Things happen in life sometimes, you just don’t give up,” Guy said last week. “Swimming’s a real journey, there’s ups and downs, and I’ve had more downs than ups, but it’s definitely up. Keep going and the times will come and the PBs will come.”
Kaylee for me…She came back from breaking Wr’s to break more Wr’s
And overcomes NBC scheduling each championships.
May not be a major name but Michelle Coleman deserves a mention. Took 8 months off last year, this year made her first 2 WC finals and then won her first ever individual medal by winning European gold!
Agreed!
Michael Klim won bronze in 1998 not gold. McEvoy is the only other Australian to medal in the event at Worlds.
Yay! Well done Cam.
So excited to see what he does in Paris. But even if he completely bombs in Paris, just achieving what he did in Fukuoka would be an incredible end to his career.
Not sure why Regan Smith is honorable mention for “comeback swimmer”.
She never took a break from swimming. She won individual gold at last year’s world Championship. She won zero individual gold in Fukuoka.
I can think of many swimmers who are more deserving, for example: Kyle Chalmers, Qin Haiyang, Ahmed Hafnaoui, Titmus, etc all of whom either skipped Budapest altogether or didn’t swim their signature event and then came back very strongly this year.
Agreed. Underperformed really high expectations then performing basically to expectations isn’t a comeback, IMO.
They just needed am American to include
Apply the same criteria used for Regan as a ‘HM’ I would argue Kaylee is more deserving of a 2023 bounce back award.
2022 was (relative to 2021 Tokyo WR form) an off year for Kaylee, despite her WC gold & silver. 2023 saw here come back into full WR and PB form left right and centre…
But 100% agree they got it right with main award to Cam!
Exactly!
I was thinking the same thing.
Using Regan’s criteria and applied to Kaylee McKeown:
Kaylee changed coach after Tokyo, so 2022 was a down year for her, she won only 1 gold at worlds.
Fast forward to 2023: she won 3 individual gold at worlds and broke 3 WRs this year.
Her ‘comeback’ is much more significant than Regan.
Agreed. Comparing her 2022 times to 2023, the only events she had a meaningful “comeback” is the 200 back and 200 fly (and 200IM if you’re counting that). In fact, her best 100 back in 2022 is even faster than her 2023 best. Not much of a comeback if you ask me
So happy for him.
Great for him to get hold on Paris.
As long as he’s got a hold on Paris he should never let go.
Sorry I meant Gold.
Prob one of the weirdest swimming careers of all time being one of the most hyped swimmers going to Rio, choking in the Olympics, being mostly irrelevant for 6+ years and then resurging as the worlds best sprinter. Would be a Disney-esque story if he caps his career off with an Olympic title
What happened to him in Rio?
His 47.04 at the Australian trials was the most beautiful and fastest 100m free I’ve ever seen.
Mate, it’s called google, use it.
I think Marc’s question is more about why what happened to him in Rio happened, not literally “what happened?”.
Exactly what I meant
I was in the stands yelling physics theorems incorrectly right before his races.
Got in his head something fierce.