Worlds at their feet

Swimming Australia is proud to announce the Australian Dolphins team to compete at the 2023 World Aquatic World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan from 23-30 July.

Following six days of competition at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, a 38-person team was announced on pool deck tonight including three rookies who will make their Dolphins Swim Team debut in the green and gold cap in five weeks’ time.

The team features world record holders Zac Stubblety-Cook and standout swimmer at these trials Kaylee McKeown, alongside Tokyo gold medallists including Ariarne Titmus, Australia’s most decorated Olympian Emma McKeon and sprint star Kyle Chalmers.

Mollie O’Callaghan is also packing her bag after winning the 100m-200m freestyle finals and finishing second in the 100m backstroke.

In almost the same amount of time it took for Lani Pallister to close the trials with a win in the women’s 1500m, cementing her third individual swim in Japan after a second in the 400m and 800m, rookies Kai Taylor and Bianca Crisp, and Jack Wilson and found themselves standing on pool deck as newly-minted Dolphins.

Taylor’s win from Lane 8 in the men’s 200m freestyle went viral while Abbey Connor squeezed into her Dolphins cap after her second place in the women’s 200m butterfly  – clocking 2:07.61, just 0.28sec under qualifying.

Looking to defend their world titles in five weeks time are:

Elijah Winnington in the men’s 400m

Mollie O’Callaghan Women’s 100m freestyle

Zac Stubblety-Cook Men’s 200m breaststroke

Kaylee McKeown 200m backstroke

Mixed 4x100m freestyle relay

4x100m women’s relay team

McKeown has been in slick form at these trials and in a clarion call of world championship proportions, is yet to fully taper.

The world’s premier backstroker missed her own 200m world record by just 0.56 secs – and fully expects the time to be slashed again in Japan. She has also qualified for the 100m backstroke and 200m individual medley events at the worlds.

Titmus also punched her ticket into three individual events in Japan after winning the 400m and 800m freestyle finals and finishing second in the 200m free behind O’Callaghan.

Other breakthrough performances included Tommy Neill, 21, who rose to the occasion in the men’s 200IM, bursting out a personal best to win gold – and selection for his first senior world long course championship team after silver medals at the shortcourse worlds in December.

The experienced Chalmers produced his fastest outing of 2023 in the 100m and the second quickest time in the world this season while Sam Short continues to earn comparison to the great Grant Hackett, posting a PB (14:46.67) in the 1500m – and declaring that at 19, his best was still to come.

Tonight, Shayna Jack and Cam McEvoy also booked their ticket by winning their respective finals of the 50m freestyle, and Matt Temple held off his good mate Chalmers to win 100m butterfly.

Australian head coach Rohan Taylor said: “I’m excited about this team,  we’ve got a great mix of experienced campaigners and some young blood coming through. These world championships are such an important stepping stone in what is a big 12 months before Paris Olympics.”

“We have an amazing team, they’re hard working, authentic and it’s always about improvement. Our goal is always to have as many high-ranked athletes going into meets and when we do that, we get conversions.”

Included in the Australian Dolphins team heading to Fukuoka are seven open water members competing from 15-20 July. After stand out performances in the Australian Open Water Championships earlier this year, including Moesha Johnson, Chelsea Gubecka, Nicholas Sloman, Bailey Armstrong and Kyle Lee will all don the green and gold once again with Bianca Crisp and Jack Wilson making their debut.

Australian Dolphins Team for the 2023 World Swimming Championships:

The Coaches are: