Australian team named for 2024 Junior Pan Pacs in Canberra

WORLD Junior champion Jaclyn Barclay (pictured) headlines a 40-strong team selected for the 2024 Junior Pan Pacific Championships to be held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra from 21 to 24 August 2024.

The championships are a major benchmark meet for the Junior Dolphins ahead of the World Junior Championships next year and act as a litmus test against the best international juniors including swimmers from the United States, Japan and Canada.

Now held every two years, the last event took place in Honolulu in 2022 and since its inception in 2005, the event has only been hosted by Hawaii, Guam and Fiji with the Championships being held in Australia for the first time.

Team lead Gary Barclay said: “Competing nations will send full-strength teams, so this meet is a good measure on how our pathways and our athletes are heading ahead of LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032.”

“It also is a chance to track and measure the strokes we have targeted – like breaststroke. Sienna Toohey and Olympia Pope have produced world-class times for their age group recently and at this meet gives them a chance to race internationally, under age-group pressure and in front of a home crowd.”

While Jaclyn Barclay and Milla Jansen will lead the women’s team, Marcus Da Silva and and Josh Conias lead the men’s team.

Of the 40 athletes selected, 31 swimmers will compete in their first major benchmark meet and a record nine swimmers have been selected from Western Australia.

New head coach of Churchie in Queensland Richard Sleight made an immediate impact over the recent Australia Age and Open Championships on the Gold Coast, from which this team was selected with three swimmers selected.

Newly formed Caulfied Aquatics in Victoria, coached by Olympian Kenrick Monk, also had three swimmers selected.

CEO of Swimming Australia Rob Woodhouse said: “We’re delighted to be hosting this event. The athletes coming through the junior ranks now are incredibly fortunate that Australia is hosting Olympic Games within the next eight years.”

“Racing opportunities like this are critical for our young developing athletes.”

The Junior Dolphins Team selected for 2024 Junior Pan Pacific Championships are: