Flood of Commonwealth records in the desert

Swimming Australia
Published: Dec 22, 2010 01:26:54 PM Updated: Nov 13, 2012 11:34:03 AM
In this article: Brenton Rickard, Kylie Palmer, Kotuku Ngawati, Emma McKeon, Felicity Galvez,

The final international meet of 2010, the FINA World Short Course in Dubai, wrapped up an action-packed swimming year with Australia setting six Commonwealth records, one Australian record and umpteen personal best times.   

Leading the charge was 25-year-old short course specialist Felicity Galvez, who won Australia’s only gold medal of the meet, taking out the 100m Butterfly in a new Championship and Commonwealth record time of 55.43.

Along with American superfish Ryan Lochte, Galvez was one of only two swimmers to defend their title from the last world championships in Manchester in 2008.  

Fellow Telstra Dolphins to eclipse Commonwealth records included the women’s silver medal winning 4x200m freestyle relay team of Blair Evans, Jade Neilsen, Kelly Stubbins and Kylie Palmer and the women’s bronze medal winning 4x100m medley relay team of Rachel Goh, Leisel Jones, Felicity Galvez and Marieke Guehrer.

Queenslander Kylie Palmer, fresh from setting a new Australian record in her silver medal winning 400m freestyle swim, also achieved a new Commonwealth mark when she won bronze in the 200m freestyle.

Australian Swim Team veteran Brenton Rickard also got in on the action, when he stopped the clock at 57.79 in the 100m breaststroke, to set a new Commonwealth record.  

Victorian 16-year-old Kotuku Ngawati will not be forgetting her first international meet any time soon, after walking away with a silver medal in the 100m IM and claiming a Commonwealth record as part of the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team that included Emma McKeon, Felicity Galvez and Marieke Guehrer.

Members of the Australian Swim Team will now take a well-deserved break over the Christmas period and enter the New Year revitalised, with their eyes on the Summer Swim Series in late January and the Shanghai World Championships Trials in early April.