Cameron McEvoy secured his first Olympic medal this afternoon on a busy day of competition for Griffith University students and alumni competing at Rio.
The Bachelor of Science student finished strongly in the final leg of the 4×100 freestyle relay, helping the team win bronze. Heat swimmer and Griffith alumnus Matt Abood also secured bronze as part of the relay team.
The 4×100 freestylewas Cameron’s first competitive outing at Rio, where he is scheduled to appear in five events.
Cameron is next due to appear in the pool on Wednesday morning for the 100m freestyle and the 4×200 freestyle relay heats.
Meanwhile, Bachelor of Social Work student Madi Wilson beat the field in her 100m backstroke semi-final with a time of 59.03 seconds, just outside her personal best.
She heads into the final on Tuesday morning with the fourth fastest time and is a strong medal chance.
After winning gold on the first day of the Rio swimming program, Griffith Health student Emma McKeon finished seventh in the finals of the 100m butterfly after coming second in her heat. She managed to improve on her heat time by more than a quarter of a second in the final.
Griffith Sports College Director Duncan Free was pleased with the performance by the Griffith athletes onday two of competition.
Great effort by our swimmers
“It’s a great effort by our swimmers overall,” he said. “Cameron was in one of the toughest events of the meeting schedule, up against the Americans, but I could tell he was happy with the bronze. My first Olympic medal was bronze and you couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.”
Mr Free, who represented Australia in rowing infour Olympics, said Cameron would now be turning his attention tothe 100m freestyle and the 4×200 freestyle heats on Wednesday.
He said Madi’s performance in the 100m backstrokewaspleasing after she finished ahead ofthe more fancied Aussie Emily Seebohm.
“She’s capable of a great performance and thatwasn’t even her personal best today,” said Mr Free.
While Emma McKeon failed to make a podium finish inthe 100m butterfly, Mr Free said she should be pleased to have landed a final berth.
“Emma has a big week ahead of her, and that’s where her focus willbe now,” he said.
Learn more about Griffith Gold
Watch a Griffith student or alumni at the Olympics almost every day
Griffith tops table in student athletes
See our full list of elite athletes supported by Griffith Sport College
