Evans Adds Australian Record to Dream Week

Western Australian Institute of Sport athlete Blair Evans has swam a new Australian record for the 400m freestyle at the FINA World Cup in Beijing overnight, setting the Water Cube alight with the second fastest time in the world this year, as the Aussies head to Tokyo with a total of 11 gold medals from China.

The 20-year-old, who had already picked up three gold medals at the world cup series so far, led from start to finish in the 400m free, taking 0.08 seconds off Kylie Palmer’s old Australian record set in Dubai last year, hitting the wall in 3:58.31.

Palmer came in second in 4:03.04, while Evans, who now has double gold in the 200 and 400m free, says the results have given her great confidence for next year.

“I have worked really hard with my coach Matt Magee this year and I’m still in hard training so to get my first Australian record is just amazing. I’m really looking forward to next year,” said Evans.

“That was my fourth gold of the world cup and I felt good all day, so I’m just happy I executed it well for gold tonight.”

An Australian Swim Team of 17 will now head to Tokyo for the final leg of the FINA World Cup series.

-SwimmingAustralia