As if enough excitement wasn’t already building up for this summer’s Olympic Games now that we’re under 100 days away from the Opening Ceremony, anyone attending the Arena Pro Swim Series meet in Santa Clara is in for a pre-Rio treat.
The Australian is reporting that some of its nation’s biggest swimming stars are headed to California June 3-5th to race against their American rivals at the Santa Clara event. With the likes of double World Champions Mitch Larkin and Emily Seebohm, young stud Kyle Chalmers and on-the-mend James Magnussen slated to swim on U.S. soil, the gears start grinding as to the potential match-ups we’ll have in store at one of the final meets leading up to the U.S. Olympic Trials.
Along with the aforementioned speedsters, Australians Emma McKeon, Madison Wilson, Madeline Groves and Jessica Ashwood have committed to swimming in Santa Clara, according to The Australian, all of whom have qualified for their nation’s 2016 Olympic team.
Of the prospect of racing the top U.S. challengers in Santa Clara, Larkin comments, “I can’t wait to get to Santa Clara and be a little bit out of my comfort zone and then at the Olympics, it will be another step up. I think it gets the best out of me, that pressure situation.”
Looking at which athletes have attended the Arena Pro Swim Series in Santa Clara the past two years, we could potentially see some special match-ups in a preview of what’s to come in Rio. With Larkin dominating the backstroke events, he may face Americans Ryan Murphy, Matt Grevers and Nick Thoman, all of whom placed in the final at last year’s meet.
For her part, Seebohm could face her American backstroke rival Missy Franklin across both the 100m and 200m events, should Franklin compete in Santa Clara. Emma McKeon would also try Franklin on for size in the women’s 200m freestyle race, an event in which Hungarian Katinka Hosszu and USA’s Simone Manuel have competed in the past in Santa Clara.
Jessica Ashwood may have her hands full with the assortment of athletes who have competed in Santa Clara’s past editions in the women’s mid-dstance freestyle events, including Cierra Runge (USA), Hosszu, and Sierra Schmidt (USA).
As for the sprinting contingent coming from Australia, Chalmers and Magnussen could possibly face past-attendees Nathan Adrian, Anthony Ervin, and Cullen Jones across both the 50m and 100m freestyle events.
On the other side of the world a couple of weeks earlier than the Arena Pro Swim Series in Santa Clara, Cate Campbell, Bronte Campbell and Cameron McEvoy will instead race in the Japan Open, which is scheduled for May 20-22nd.
The entire Australian Olympic roster will then race at a grand prix meet in Brisbane on July 1-2 as their final competition before the Olympic Games begin on August 5th.
What you have to remember is this that chalmers is very raw still.I would expect Adrian to beat him at santa clara.Larkins against what the yanks can throw at him shall be interesting.
Have to remember that the Olympics is about racing on the day not about world rankings anymore.
Magnussen learnt that from 12 trials.
” im going to do this and that”
Nathan Adrian became favorite then because he couldn’t his mouth zipped.
Cant wait for Rio or wherever it will be.
I forgot gyurta for hungary
The Aussies have been replaced by who?
Australia is still no 2 in terms of depth with Japan third.
The US will always have the most medals but gold medals are another matter especially since many countries are producing one or 2 stars who can get golds.
Sweden with Sarah sjostrom
Germany with Marco koch
Japan who have the third deepest depth (after the US and Australia) with kosuke hagino, daiya seto, natsumi hoshi, kanako Watanabe, ryosuke irie, satomi Suzuki, yasuhiro koseki etc
Hungary with katinka hosszu and lazlo Czech
Spain with meira belmonte
Italy with gregorio Paltrinieri and maybe Federica pellegrinni
France with their male sprinters, florent manaudou, Jeremy stravius, Clement Mignon, mehdy metella etc
south Africa with Chad… Read more »
Good Analysis of the top contenders excluding AUS and USA, Carlo but I would say the only medals that could be pre-engraved at this stage barring illness/injury/breaks are KL 400/800, Aus W4X100 free, SS 100 Fly.
PVHD , Why don’t your respond to Stephen with a some clever return fire to his banter instead of the unimaginative “loudmouth aussie”
Thankfully Cate Bronte and Cam are heading elsewhere…Don’t wanna burst the American bubble just yet. Although Seebohn Larkin & Chalmers are more than capable of doing that.
Wait the Us trials – some surprises will refrain your statement head on .
Ah yes, the typical pre Olymlics Aussie loudmouths. How’d that work out last time? The U.S. will always be the premier swimming country, the Aussies have already been replaced as number 2.
I would love to see a 100 free with Maggie , Adrian , Dressel and Chalmers . That could be an awesome opportunity for those sprinters to see where they are . The backstroke races could be equally amazing : Grevers , Larkin , Murphy and Plummer ( i think that Thoman has not been since a long while on those Pro swim series ) .
2nd tier Aussie Freestylers v America’s best …..should be good viewing
where are your IMers & butterflyers ? past the 3d tier level or ?
Our aussie men IMers and flyers are a work in progress.
Our Ladies in the fly events are looking good.
The lady IMers will medal at the Olympics.
Look at Steph Rice mate remember ???
Lol
I doubt Dressel will be there–I would bet he goes the Texas Invite instead.
Putting biases aside, this will be great for both Americans and Australians. Especially excited to see Larkin go head to head with the Americans in 100 back. Good luck to all the swimmers!
Definitely tell us where the Yanks are at. Mitch clearly the best Backstroker in the world at the minute.
Yeah I think they are trying to get a psychological edge on us by coming here and beating us right before the games. Hope it backfires on them.
An Australian team has gone to June meets in California since whenever .
If you don’t want swimmers to attend then build a wall.
I remember the Aussies sending a small but powerful team to Santa Clara way back to 1971 and kicked the Americans butts. Of course, Shane Gould broke two worlds records at the meet. The Aussies always come ready to race at Santa Clara. Nothing new there.
And Australia will pay for it !
All the downvotes..now I know how Bobo Gigi feels. USA swimmers too focused on trials anyway to worry about the Aussies.
Trump said he will build the wall but Mexico has to pay for it
TAA lighten up . Sometimes they stay in Hawaii beforehanx & sometimes altitude camp in Arizona or Mexico. zo results vary .SPW used to take Park who of couse did superb.
Bound to be an eye-opener for the US swimmers