2025 Australian Swimming Trials: Start List Released For Highly Anticipated Competition

2025 AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING TRIALS

The 2025 Australian Swimming Trials are nearly upon us, with action kicking off from the SA Aquatic & Leisure Centre beginning on Monday, June 9th.

The competition serves as the primary qualification meet for this summer’s World Championships, with the Swimming Australian selection criteria linked above.

A maximum squad of 56 athletes (28 males and 28 females) may be selected for Singapore based on performances at these championships, with the World Aquatics ‘A’ cuts representing the minimum selection standards.

The usual suspects will be diving in for this elite event, including Olympic multi-gold medalist Kaylee McKeown who is entered in the women’s 50m/100m/200m backstroke events, along with the 50m freestyle.

21-year-old Isaac Cooper is set to contest the men’s 50m free, 50m back and 50m fly, following the announcement that Swimming Australia revised its qualification criteria in these events based on the fact that the stroke 50s have been added to the 2028 Olympic Games event schedule.

Late last year, Cooper said that he was “on break” and was going to “hit a massive reset button” on his swimming career, but the change in Olympic lineup seems to have motivated him back to the pool.

Jenna Forrester, Zac Stubblety-Cook, Kyle Chalmers, Sam Short, Flynn Southam, Elijah Winnington, Elizabeth Dekkers, Lani Pallister and Cameron McEvoy are just a handful of the other high-profile talent ready to make some noise on their way to qualifying for Singapore.

There are two big names absent from the list: one is Olympian Iona Anderson, who won silver on the women’s 400 medley relay and bronze in the mixed 400 medley relay at the Paris Olympic Games. The 19-year-old, who is Australia’s backstroke understudy to McKeown, has given no public indication as to why she isn’t entered.

One of the country’s top young male backstrokers, 16-year-old Henry Allan, is also missing from the entry lists. Allan swam 53.73 in the 100 backstroke to set the Australian Age Record in the event.

Look for additional articles highlighting the key races to watch as we comb through the entries with just days to go.

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Anonymous
4 hours ago

Have you all forgotten Meg Harris anchored Paris 4×100 Gold Medal winning relay in 51.9 something. Has 100 Free PB 52.57. Currently ranked 2nd fastest Australian behind MOC.
2025 Paris Olympic Silver medalist in 50 free.. She is currently ranked #1 for 50 Free & #2 for 100 Free at Trials but hasn’t received a mention on Swimswam.

NJ Cav
5 hours ago

This is not a qualifying meet for the World Junior Championships. The World Junior Championships team was already selected based on the Australian Age and Open Championships held in April. https://www.swimming.org.au/articles/junior-dolphins-team-for-2025-world-junior-championships

NJ Cav
Reply to  NJ Cav
17 minutes ago

Looks like the article was changed to remove mention of the World Junior Championships. Thanks.

SNygans01
14 hours ago

Shaun Champion another absentee…

SNygans01
Reply to  SNygans01
14 hours ago

And Jack Cartwright. He was struggling at Nationals, I recall. Abbey Harkin also absent.

Troyy
Reply to  SNygans01
13 hours ago

I figured Champion and Harkin have moved on to other things but it’s hard to know for sure

KeithM
17 hours ago

It feels quite strange to have Aussie trials take place after US trials. When’s the last time that happened?

cheese
20 hours ago

Feeling good about Lani Pallister having a very dominant showing at Worlds.

Irrelevant swim productions
22 hours ago

Everybody been talking about the US men’s team but I think Australia are even worse 💀 . Are they even gonna win a single gold medal?! The woman’s relays are absolutely cooked I’ll tell you that

Joel
Reply to  Irrelevant swim productions
20 hours ago

Heard of McEvoy, Short, McKeown, MOC (even with injury)?

Irrelevant swim productions
Reply to  Joel
9 hours ago

Mcevoy is best chance but not guarenteed after Doha. Short has literally regressed every in season meet this year. Mckeown in a bad state mentally rn, Regan can prob beat her this year, MOC couldn’t even medal in the 100 without injury, what makes you think she’ll win any gold with one?

Joel
Reply to  Irrelevant swim productions
1 hour ago

MOC won 200 free Olympic gold. So did McEvoy in the 50

Southerly Buster
22 hours ago

No Iona Anderson. I wonder what the story is there?

I guess Barclay is the likely candidate to replace Anderson swimming the medley relay prelims.

Troyy
Reply to  Southerly Buster
21 hours ago

Barclay hasn’t been great so far this season. Thinking maybe it’s Fredericks’ turn

Southerly Buster
Reply to  Troyy
21 hours ago

You could be right. Fredericks went close to making the team last year.

Torchbearer
1 day ago

I don’t expect much from AUS this year- the post Olympic year is always a weird one of retirements, breaks, new stars etc….

Admin
Reply to  Torchbearer
1 day ago

Seems to be the case almost everywhere though. Good year for some young talent to steal some medals…

Torchbearer
Reply to  Braden Keith
16 hours ago

Except the US women are on fire…..

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