"VAN" (Sports Desk - 17.10.2026) :: The penultimate day of the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2026 concluded Friday evening from Astana, Kazakhstan, and some things never change. Cameron McEvoy of Australia, and Kasia Wasick of Poland, remained at the top of the 50m Freestyle final.
For McEvoy, age 32, his swim on Friday night won him the Triple Crown at 20.19 over his biggest challenger Egor Kornev of Russia at 20.59. McEvoy’s swim was not a best time, as his 20.13 last week had many believing he could become the second man ever to beat the 19-second barrier but, that may have to wait until December at the World Swimming Championships (25m) in Beijing.
“I feel good,” McEvoy said. “The Crown is always nice. Another $10k bonus. But yeah, overall, a quicker time than I expected. 20.19 is the second-fastest time I’ve ever done. I did believe I’d be a bit slower off the back of the 100 Freestyle.
“At the other two stops, the 50 Freestyle was on day one, so I thought I’d carry fatigue, but I didn’t. So that’s a really good learning piece of data moving forward because I’m playing around with the idea of adding the 100 for the relay for bigger competitions. I’m still unsure, but getting the data tonight that I can maintain my 50-metre speed while a little bit tired from the 100, maybe it’s possible. So I’d like to go home and have a think about it.”
It’s the third win in a row for McEvoy, who also took away Kornev’s Crown attempt in the 100m Freestyle yesterday.
“McEvoy gives (me) a lot of motivation,” Kornev said. “I’m very happy for him because we are friends beside the competition. But sport is the sport, and I want to be the fastest in the world.”
For Wasick, age 34, she won her ninth straight 50m Freestyle at the World Cup on Friday, having not lost a 50m Freestyle final in short course meters since the 2022 World Championships. Wasick held off a potential upset pick in Marrit Steenbergen of the Netherlands, who didn’t race this event in Baku or Tashkent, as Wasick won at 23.30 to Steenbergen’s 23.41.
“I feel amazing, honestly,” Wasick said. “To be able to win so many times, so many years, at my age, it’s not easy, definitely not easy. But I’m happy I’m able to keep my form and just keep improving. Every stop I was faster, so that makes me really happy.”
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