Dolphins Named for Home World Short Course Championships

Swimming Australia is proud to announce the Australia Dolphins team to contest the 16^th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Melbourne this December.

The team includes 22 athletes who contested either the FINA World Championships in Budapest or the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, as well as 9 rookies named to their first senior Australian team.

While the opportunity to swim a World Championships in front of a home crowd is significant for the entire team, it will also take on extra meaning for Victorian athletes including Mack Horton, Jenna Strauch, Matt Temple, Sam Williamson, David Schlicht and Brendon and Mikayla Smith as they prepare to compete in their home city.

The home grown Victorian talent join leading Australian Dolphins including Emma McKeon, Mollie O’Callaghan, Kaylee McKeown and Kyle Chalmers in the team of 36.

Swimming Australia CEO, Eugénie Buckley, congratulated the athletes on their selection and believes the Dolphins will relish the platform provided by a Championships on home soil.

“You only have to look at the reception our Dolphins received in Sydney last week, and the subsequent boost that passion and engagement from the fans gave them, to know how special it is to compete here in Australia,” Buckley said.

“These opportunities are few and far between in an athlete’s career and we are delighted to see this group, via their performances, take that chance with both hands. I have no doubt they will represent themselves, and our country, with pride.”

“This is a world class team set to face some of international swimming’s premier short course athletes right here in our own backyard, and I can’t think of a better way for our swimming family, and sporting fans more broadly, to finish the year than to be pool side in Melbourne cheering our Dolphins on.”

Australian Dolphins Head Coach Rohan Taylor says he is excited by the prospect of this Dolphins team competing in front of a passionate Australian crowd.

“This group is a great mix of experienced athletes at the international level who are race hardened following some quality campaigns this year, alongside some fresh faces who have the rare honour of making their debut here in Australia,” Taylor said.

“Ours is one of the most competitive teams to make in international swimming, so I have complete confidence every time we select a squad that they will enter the meet prepared and willing to give nothing short of their best.”

“These Championships represent a unique opportunity to leave your mark in the memory of a home crowd and I’m certain we have a proud group of Dolphins here that are motivated by that chance.”

Taylor will again lead the team as Head Coach and is set to be supported by team coaches Michael Bohl, Dean Boxall, Craig Jackson, Amanda Isaac, Damien Jones, Richard Scarce and Adam Kable.

Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos said “Victoria is our nation’s sporting capital, and Victorians can’t wait to welcome Australia’s beloved Dolphins home to compete in front of thousands of fans from around the country.”

The 16^th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) will run from December 13-18 at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC).

2022 Australian Dolphins World Short Course Championships Team

*Denotes Australian Dolphins rookie