Sydney, July 18: Australia's star swimmer Cameron McEvoy on Monday announced he will drop the 200-metre freestyle from his busy schedule at the Rio Olympic Games in order to give better performance in the relays.

He had planned to swim in six disciplines in the Rio Olympics -- the 50m, 100m, 200m freestyle and the three relays, reports Xinhua.

McEvoy said the 200m freestyle happens to take place on the same day as the 4x100m free relay which made him decide to drop "one of his favourite event".

David McKeon, who finished third to dead-heaters McEvoy and Thomas Fraser Holmes in the event at the national trials, will take McEvoy's spot in the individual 200m freestyle at Rio.

IANS