SYDNEY - Australia's highly-rated Cameron McEvoy said Monday he will drop the 200-metre freestyle from his swimming programme at next month's Rio Olympics to be fresher for the relays.
Cameron McEvoy (pictured) says he will drop the 200-metre 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.