The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Commonwealth Games Preview: 100m Freestyle (Men)

24th July, 2014
Advertisement
Australia's James Magnussen looks at the scoreboard after winning the men's 100m Freestyle final. AP Photo/Michael Sohn
Expert
24th July, 2014
1
1017 Reads

I don’t think I’m showing my age too much when I reflect on a time when Australians adored every bit of the Commonwealth Games.

It really wasn’t that long ago, and we cherished watching our swimmers compete at those Games almost as much as the Olympics.

I have a theory: We loved the Olympics because it was the peak, and while we could never dominate the way the Americans often did, we were always a chance to snare a gold here or there against the very best. At the Commonwealth Games, we could dominate, and who doesn’t like watching winners, especially when the Brits are finishing behind us?

But along came a few guys named Perkins and Thorpe and Hackett and Klim, and while it had been harder winning on the biggest stage, we suddenly found out how much more gratifying it was.

And then, when these guys and similarly talented girls – O’Neill, Riley, Jones, Lenton, Thomas – stepped back into the Commonwealth Games, you kind of felt Australia was a bit like a bully. So much better than the other nations, often standing on all three steps of the dais, and only being big news if they didn’t win something. Winning just didn’t seem as satisfying having feasted a little more on at the Olympics.

Even in our own backyard in 2006, there was lacklustre feel around the swimming. Despite our men not winning an individual medal, our women dominated with 13. And in Delhi, again, it seemed like a ho-hum sort of feel.

But something has changed this time around. I’m not sure if it’s because we went without an individual gold in London in 2012, but there is a real buzz about the swimming in Glasgow, and in particular the battle between two Australians in the sport’s premier event, the 100m freestyle. It’s always been every other nation’s blue riband event, now it’s time to become ours as well.

In the early hours of Monday July 28, we will see an Australian duel, just like the ones Kieren Perkins and Daniel Kowlaski gave us in the 1500m, and like Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett would produce in the 400.

Advertisement

Maggie and Macca – James Magnussen and Cameron McEvoy. First and fourth in the world last year in that order, first and second at the national championships this year, but in reverse order.

The master versus the apprentice
Not only is this pair the fastest in the Commonwealth, but with a 47.59s to Maggie and 47.65s to Macca, they are clearly the quickest two on the planet in 2014. The next fastest in the field is fellow Aussie Tommaso D’Orsogna, more than a full second behind, while you need to go back to the 50th fastest this year to find a foreign challenger, Britain’s Adam Brown with a 49.35s.

And it’s about time Australia righted the ship, having watched an Englishman and a Canadian win the past two editions of the sprint.

While we haven’t won an Olympic gold in the 100m since Mike Wenden in 1968, the Commonwealth Games sprint has been a favourite of Australians.

In fact, while we have a love affair with the 1500m, and it may not surprise many that Australia has won the 1500m at the Commonwealth Games on 13 occasions, we have also won the 100m on 11 occasions.

And barring some sort of catastrophe, that number will be 12 after Glasgow.

Trust me, it will be worth setting he alarm on that Monday morning, and you might fall in love with the Games of the Commonwealth again.

Advertisement

What is it?
While we may have had a fascination – some may say an obsession – with the 1,500m freestyle, the rest of the world barely rated the event. To them, just as the case is in athletics, the 100m is the blue riband event.

Being spoilt on a diet of Perkins and Hackett for so long, it’s not surprising we loved the longer event, but don’t forget our famous horse race is a staying test too.

But the sprint has always been the race of an Olympics or World Championships, and it’s going to be the race of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow too.

Two laps – there and back – and around 47 seconds. Done. None of this ringing a bell at lap 29 to remind the swimmers to stop at the next wall. It’s not quite a splash and dash, and tactics can be crucial. But it will be fast, exciting, and leave you wanting even more.

Why should I watch it?
Simple: because it’s going to produce something special. James Magnussen, The Star, the world champion, a future great, against The Kid, Cameron McEvoy (he’s only three years younger) in a showdown. The Star won at the world championships last year, but The Kid won at the national titles. At stake a Commonwealth Games gold, and the mantle of favourite for Rio in 2016. But also, don’t be shocked if a world record tumbles.

Who’s going to win?
It’s a two horse race – unless both horses break down. Magnussen or McEvoy, McEvoy or Magnussen. It will be Magnussen in a photo. The loss in Brisbane at the nationals would have stung, and fired him up for this one.

What happened last time?
In Delhi four years ago Canadian Brent Hayden completed the 50m and 100m freestyle double.

Advertisement

He beat 2006 Commonwealth Games champion Simon Burnett from England, with Australia’s Eamon Sullivan third.

Australia has a strong history in the 110yd/100m at the Games, winning the premier event 11 times, the most recent being in 2002 when Ian Thorpe collected the gold.

Who is our prediction to win?
An Australian trifecta. Tommaso D’Orsogna getting the bronze, McEvoy the silver, and Magnussen the gold.

Pass mark for Australia?
1-2-3. Gold, Silver, Bronze. In that order.

Fast Facts
– While a final number of starters won’t be confirmed until the days leading into the 100m freestyle, let’s just say it’s not quite as populated as the 50m freestyle, but far more popular than the arduous 200m butterfly or 1500m, as most countries can find someone who can swim two laps of a pool. In Delhi there were 52 nominated for the 100m freestyle, only 15 in the 1500m.
– The first winner of the sprint at the 1930 Empire Games was Munroe Bourne from Canada. The last winner of the sprint was Brent Hayden from Canada.
– Australia’s first winner of the sprint was Jon Henricks in 1954.
– Australian Michael Wenden won the event at three successive Games – 1966, 1970 and 1974.
– While he’s unlikely to trouble the Australians in the 100m freestyle, South African Chad le Clos is streets ahead when it comes to Twitter followers. Chad has 142,000. James Magnussen has around 5400, and Cam McEvoy has just over 4100. Magnussen does have around 18,000 Instagram followers however.
– In Delhi Australia collected the bronze thanks to Eamon Sullivan. Hayden won gold.
– In 2010 two swimmers from Lesotho competed in the 100m freestyle.

Which drink would best accompany watching the event?
This isn’t the 1500m where you have time to sip a chardonnay. You’ve got about 47 seconds. This event is made for shots.

This article was first published on the Tenplay website here.

Advertisement
close