Cesar Cielo congratulates Cam McEvoy on breaking his world record in the 50-meter freestyle.
The Brazilian swimmer's 16-year-old record of 20.91 was beaten by McEvoy's time of 20.88 at the China Open in Shenzhen.
What happened?
Cam McEvoy competed at the China Open in Shenzhen and registered a time of 20.88 for the one-lap dash.
This effort bettered Cesar Cielo's world record of 20.91, set in late 2009.
Cielo is an inductee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
Why it matters for Cesar Cielo
Cesar Cielo sent his congratulations to Cam McEvoy, the new standard bearer in the 50-meter freestyle.
McEvoy has been the undisputed king of the 50 freestyle for several years.
He captured the Olympic crown at the Paris Games and is a two-time world champion in the 50 free.
What comes next?
McEvoy shifted his focus to the 50 freestyle and adopted a training approach geared toward the sprint.
The new methodology has been beneficial for the four-time Olympian.
Cesar Cielo noted McEvoy's willingness to make changes in his training, quoting "You never change things by fighting the existing reality."
Cielo added, "To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete."
McEvoy made it clear he was targeting the world record in the 50 free.
Cesar Cielo's congratulatory remarks were posted on March 20, 2026.
The Brazilian swimmer praised McEvoy's lightning-fast swim and incredible achievement.
Cielo's record had stood for 16 years before being broken by McEvoy.
McEvoy's time of 20.88 is a new world record in the 50-meter freestyle.
The record was set at the China Open in Shenzhen on March 20, 2026.