A fast-finishing Cameron McEvoy took Australia within a whisker of gold on the final day of the World Swimming Championships in Russia.
In the anchor role, the Griffith University science student produced a world-class 46.60 freestyle relay split to almost catch Nathan Adrian who held on to win gold for the United States in the 4 x 100 medley relay final.McEvoy touched the wall 0.15 seconds after Adrian.
The silver medal brought the curtain down on a very successful world championships for a revitalised Australian team which hauled in a total of seven gold, three silver and six bronze. This left Australia on the coat-tails of the US which finished with eight gold, 10 silver and five bronze.
Griffith University had eight representatives on the Australian world championship team including Emma McKeon, Jess Ashwood, David McKeon, Madi Wilson, Lorna Tonks, Mel Gorman, Jess Walker and McEvoy who also claimed silver in the 100m freestyle final.
Public Health student Emma McKeon also starred in Kazan, as part ofthe triumphant 4 x 100m women’s relay. She also placed fourth in 100m butterfly final.
The Commonwealth Games champion (below) was part of the women’s team that won gold ahead of the Netherlands and defending champions the United States.
The team of Emma, sisters Cate and Bronte Campbell and Emily Seebohm completed the event in 3:30.98, more than two seconds ahead of the silver medalists and three seconds ahead of the Americans.
The world title continues her success at international level after she won four gold and two bronze medals at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
She is also one of Australia’s big medal chances looking ahead to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Jess Ashwood, who is studying for a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Criminal Justice), took out a world championship bronze medal in the individual 400m freestyle, swimming a personal best of 4:03.34. It’s Australia’s first 400m women’s freestyle world championship medal since Hayley Lewis won silver in Perth in 1991.
She also lowered her Australian 1500m record by swimming 15:56.52 in qualifying for the final.
Jess and Emma were also part of the women’s 4 x 200m relay team that finished sixth.
Social Work student, Madi Wilson, qualified third fastest for the women’s 100m backstroke final, and finished sixth in the 50m backstroke final.
All are members of theGriffith Sports College.