2026 AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING TRIALS
- Monday, June 8 – Saturday, June 13, 2026
- Sydney, Australia
- Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre
- LCM (50 meters)
- Meet Central
- Commonwealth Selection Criteria
- Pan Pac Selection Criteria
- Psych Sheets
- Heat Sheet
- Live Results
G’Day!!!!
It’s a great morning (or evening, where I’m covering from) for some fast swimming, as the 2026 Australian Swimming Trials are nigh upon us.
It’s a very important meet, as Swim Australia will be selecting not one but two teams over the course of this meet, with both the Commonwealth and Pan-Pac Teams being selected in the coming days. Yes, that’s right, all of you Aussie Swim Fans will hopefully be able to shout from the stands “AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE” at two different meets as the Dolphins look to light up the pools in both Glasgow, Scotland and Irvine, California, later this summer.
However, let us not jump ahead too far into the future, as those teams have not yet been named and there are plenty of reasons to follow along this meet as Australia’s best look to put on a masterclass of swimming in Sydney this week.
Perhaps the face of Australian swimming in recent years, Kaylee McKeown is slated to appear in two events this morning, with the 24-year-old USC Spartans swimmer coming in as the top seed in both the 200 IM and 50 backstroke. McKeown has stated that these Commonwealth Games will be her last, a competition where she has collected six different medals. Interestingly enough, her events today are the two events in which she was denied the gold medal four years ago in Birmingham, as she placed 2nd in the 200 IM and 3rd in the 50 back.
The 50 back has been an interesting race for the Australian record holder of late; last year at this meet, McKeown was disqualified for a false start in the event, before being reinstated after prelims, allowing her to race the event at Worlds. However, in Singapore, McKeown withdrew from the event, not contesting it at all.
McKeown has more than a false start to worry about in her events, as the 50 back is loaded with talent, with Mollie O’Callaghan, Iona Anderson, Ainsely Trotter, and Semra Olowoniyi all seeded under 28.00. The 200 IM will be no cakewalk either, as she squares off against the likes of Elaa Ramsay, Tara Kinder and Jenna Forrester.
These two events obviously have star billing, but that by no means makes the other events on today’s slate filler. Things kick off with a bang as Australia’s two best distance swimmers have been drawn into the same heat of the men’s 400 free. Sam Short, who fell ill last year at Worlds but rebounded well with a strong showing at the Pro Swim Series meet in Westmont, IL, earlier this year, is the top seed, but will have Elijah Winnington to one side of him. While they are the top two and favored to make the team, don’t count out Benjamin Goedemans, the 4th seed who is slated to compete against visiting Kim Woomin.
Lani Pallister holds down the fort in the women’s 400 free. After crushing Katie Ledecky’s 800 short-course free record back in October, Pallister will look to continue her good form as she aims to improve upon her PB of 3:58.87 from Worlds last season. Brazil’s Maria Costa is the 2nd seed, but as a visiting swimmer is barred from the final, so look for Amelia Weber, Molly Walker, and Jenna Forrester (in a tough double) to try to surround Pallister in the final and get under the qualifying standard, of which only Pallister is seeded under.
Men’s 400 Freestyle – Prelims
- World Record: 3:39.96 – Lukas Martens (GER), 2025
- Commonwealth Record: 3:40.08 – Ian Thorpe (AUS), 2002
- Australian Record: 3:40.08 – Ian Thorpe (SLC AQUADOT), 2002
- All-Comers Record: 3:40.54 – Ian Thorpe (SLC AQUADOT), 2002
- SwimAustralia Qualifying Time: 3:45.88
Top 8:
- Samuel Short (RACKL) – 3:45.17
- Elijah Winnington (STPET) – 3:46.77
- Bejamin Goedemans (STPET) – 3:47.25
- Woomin Kim (V) (KOR) – 3:47.86
- Alec Mander (SSPW) – 3:48.13
- Tex Cross (HLDR) – 3:48.49
- Thomas Neill (RACKL) – 3:48.93
- Matthew Galea (STPET) – 3:49.56
- Charlie Hawke (RACKL) – 3:49.68
With an open lane to one side of him as New Zealand’s Lewis Clareburt was a no show in the first heat, (remember Australian Trials is swum fast to slow) Sam Short showed off his dominance in the event as he opened up a body length lead quickly and was first to both the 100 and 200 wall hitting the halfway point in 1:48.57, 1.85 seconds ahead of his Olympic and Worlds teammate as well as rival Elijah Winnington.
Short continued to lead over the back half and cruised into the wall in a time of 3:45.17. Short, the reigning Commonwealth Games champion in this event, appeared to just fade over the finish as Winnington closed the gap to finish 1.60 back at 3:46.77. Short’s time would have ranked 10th in the world this season had he not already posted a 3:42.53 at April’s Australian Open, which makes him the 3rd-fastest swimmer in the world. Short is the 4th seed in the 200 free, so he may have been using this prelims swim to test out his speed for tomorrow’s 200.
While Short led from start to finish in his heat, the 2nd heat was a much more back-and-forth affair. Anders McAlpine, a 20-year-old from Griffith University, had a narrow lead over Korea’s Kim Woomin, 1:51.16 to 1:51.28. Woomin, the defending Olympic and World Bronze medalist, is ineligible to swim in the A-final tonight, but was looking for a time to make the B-final. Kim, however, was denied the heat win as Benjamin Goedemans came from near the back of the field to win the heat in 3:47.25, just off his season best of 3:47.13 from the Tokyo Open last November. Goedemans, like Short, will be looking for an illness-free summer as he was a late withdrawal from the 1500 in Singapore last year.
Kim touched half a second back, hitting the wall in 2nd at 3:47.86, ahead of hard-charging Alec Mander, whose time of 3:48.13 is just .12 off his entry time.
Women’s 200 Individual Medley – Prelims
- World Record: 2:05.70 – Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2025
- Commonwealth Record: 2:05.70 – Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2025
- Australian Record: 2:06.63 – Kaylee McKeown (Griffith University), 2024
- All-Comers Record: 2:06.63 – Kaylee McKeown (Griffith University), 2024
- SwimAustralia Qualifying Time: 2:10.49
Top 8:
- Ella Ramsay (NUN) – 2:10.70
- Tara Kinder (MVC) – 2:12.05
- Jenna Forrester (STPET) – 2:13.52
- Lexi Harrison (MNLY) – 2:15.28
- Kayla Hardy (CRUIZ) – 2:15.56
- Heidi Shumack (SOSC) – 2:16.68
- Julia Eve Spedding (GUSC) – 2:17.86
- Alannah Torrance (NUN) – 2:18.13
Perhaps it was a case of the Observer Effect, where the fact that we drew attention to Kaylee McKeown‘s 200 IM/50 backstroke double changed the outcome, as McKeown, the reigning Olympic bronze medalist in the event, withdrew before the start of the race, opening a massive opportunity for several swimmers.
Making the most of that absence was the #2 seed Ella Ramsay and the #3 seed Tara Kinder. Ramsay, a silver medalist from both the Paris Olympics and Singapore World Championships, cruised her way to the top time, hitting the wall in a time of 2:10.70. Ramsay, who qualified for the Olympic final in this event but withdrew due to COVID-19, has already been as fast as 2:09.94 this season and ranks 10th in the world.
Cruising home in a 33.13, Ramsay could be on track tonight to better that time from the Australian Open, but Kinder, who stopped the clock at 2:12.05, and Forrester, who won the first heat in McKeown’s absence, at 2:13.52 will each be looking to earn a spot on the roster. However, all three will need to ensure they are under the SwimAustralia qualifying time of 2:10.49. Seventeen-year-old Sienna Toohey, who had a breakout meet last year, was in too much of a hole to use her breaststroke prowess to make the top 8, qualifying 9th in a time of 2:18.15, .02 back of Alannah Torrance in 8th.
Men’s MC 50 Butterfly – Prelims
With the Commonwealth Para team already named, athletes in this event were battling it out for a spot in the final tonight to earn a trip to America to compete at the Para Pan-Pacs. Leading the way into the final with 696 points was 21-year-old Lewis Bishop, an S9 athlete, who hit the wall in 27.93. Just three points back was S10 swimmer Alex Saffy, who touched in 26.70, .07 ahead of Tom Gallagher.
Women’s MC 50 Butterfly – Prelims
With just nine competitors, all but one swimmer was guaranteed to advance to tonight’s final, but top-seeded Kael Thompson didn’t hold anything back as she blasted to a 30.54, scoring 847 points. The S14 USC Spartans swimmer is clear of the field by nearly 300 points, as Jordan Berryman and Sarah Howe earned 567 and 565 points thanks to their 39.87 and 32.61 swims in the S7 and S10 classifications.
Men’s 100 Breaststroke – Prelims
- World Record: 56.88 – Adam Peaty (GBR), 2019
- Commonwealth Record: 56.88 – Adam Peaty (GBR), 2019
- Australian Record: 58.58 – Brenton Rickard (Brothers), 2009
- All-Comers Record: 58.80 – Samuel Williamson (Melbourne Vicentre), 2024
- SwimAustralia Qualifying Time: 59.39
Top 8:
- Sam Williamson (MVC) – 59.11
- Joshua Collett (BOND) – 1:00.76
- Joshua Anderson (BGRAM) – 1:00.79
- Bailey Lello (STPET) – 1:00.96
- Gideon Burnes (BOND) – 1:00.97
- Zac Stubblety-Cook (NUN) – 1:01.04
- Joshua Yong (HLDR) – 1:01.06
- Nash Wilkes (GUSC) – 1:01.09
Certainly no one told Sam Williamson about Australia’s struggles in the 100 breaststroke, as the 28-year-old popped off this morning hitting the wall in 59.11. The All-Comers record holder (fastest swim in Australia) attacked the race from the get-go using a strong start to power his way to the first wall in 27.25, a split that not only was the lone result under 28.00, but a full second clear of the rest of the field. Coming home in 31.86, the fastest last 50 and just one of two under 32, Williamson’s time clocks in as the 7th (tied) fastest time in the world this season, and ranks second among nations competing at the Commonwealths, trailing only Adam Peaty.
Williamson will need to ensure that he is under the qualifying time of 59.39 tonight, and Joshua Collett and Joshua Anderson will be looking to join him there. The pair will have their work cut out for them as they were just 1:00.76 and 1:00.79 this morning.
Zac Stubblety-Cook, who recently left his training program, which is under the stewardship of Adam Peaty’s former coach Mel Marshall, was out in his trademark long stroke, hitting the wall in 29.11, the only split in the top eight above 29.00, but used his 200 breaststroke prowess to come home in 31.93 to finish 6th overall at 1:01.04.
Women’s 400 Freestyle – Prelims
- World Record: 3:54.18 – Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2025
- Commonwealth Record: 3:54.18 – Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2025
- Australian Record: 3:55.38 – Ariarne Titmus (St Peters Western), 2023
- All-Comers Record: 3:55.44 – Ariarne Titmus (St Peters Western), 2024
- SwimAustralia Qualifying Time: 4:06.75
Top 8:
- Lani Pallister (STPET) – 4:02.99
- Maria Costa (V.) (BRA) – 4:04.94
- Jenna Forrester (STPET) – 4:06.97
- Amelia Weber (STPET) – 4:09.12
- Molly Walker (SOPE) – 4:09.88
- Davison-McGovern (STPET) – 4:11.17
- Tia Kritzinger (RACKL)/Hannah Allen (RACKL) – 4:12.53
- Jade Starr (GUSC) – 4:16.63
Short course meters 800 free world record holder Lani Pallister had a controlled prelims swim, cruising her way to a 4:02.99 to earn the top seed in tonight’s final. Out in 57.58, Pallister was closely shadowed by her training partner Amelia Weber, who hit the 100 wall in 58.19. Weber, however, couldn’t stay in striking distance with Pallister, who produced a controlled last 300, splitting 1:01.31/1:01.92/1:02.18. Pallister has already been under 4:00 this season, going 3:59.36 at April’s Australian Open and currently ranks 3rd in the world this season.
Pallister will have Weber to one side tonight, but it was her other St. Peters Western teammate that earned the top seed as Jenna Forrester posted the 3rd fastest time and 2nd fastest time among Australians. Coming off of the 200 IM less than an hour ago, Forrester used her 400 IM prowess to edge past Weber and touched behind Pallister at 4:07.92, slicing .95 off her seed.
Brazil’s Maria Fernanda Costa won the 2nd heat in 4:04.94, but as a visiting athlete is barred from the final. Molly Walker of Southern Performance posted the 2nd fastest time in the heat, going 4:09.88, but it was Jaqueline Davison-McGovern who turned heads as the 22-year-old dropped over a second off her time to stop the clock at 4:11.17, becoming the 4th Dean Boxall-trained swimmer to make the final.
Women’s 50 Backstroke – Prelims
- World Record: 26.86 – Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2023
- Commonwealth Record: 26.86 – Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2023
- Australian Record: 26.86 – Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2023
- All-Comers Record: 26.98 – Kaylee McKeown (Griffith University), 2023
- SwimAustralia Qualifying Time: 27.57
Top 8:
- Kaylee McKeown (USCS) – 27.22
- Iona Anderson (HLDR) – 27.55
- Mollie O’Callaghan (STPET) – 27.67
- Emily Jones (HUNT) – 27.90
- Hannah Fredericks (STPET) – 27.97
- Mackenzie Burns (STAND) – 28.25
- Jaclyn Barclay (GUSC) – 28.41
- Alyssa Burgess (HLDR) – 28.50
After pulling out of the 200 IM, Kaylee McKeown put on a masterclass of a first swim as the Everything Record holder posted the fastest time of the morning and of the world as she hit the wall in 27.22, overtaking Alina Gaifutdinova’s 27.23.
2025-2026 LCM Women 50 BACK
BERKOFF
26.98
| 2 | Sara CURTIS | ITA | 27.07 | 06/26 |
| 3 | Kaylee MCKEOWN | AUS | 27.13 | 06/08 |
| 4 | Isabelle Stadden | USA | 27.14 | 06/18 |
| 5 | Mollie O'Callaghan | AUS | 27.19 | 06/08 |
McKeown could easily be faster tonight as it appeared that the 2023 World Champion in this event was slow off the start and didn’t have the early speed needed to break 27.00. As mentioned above, McKeown has had some struggles with this event, initially being disqualified in the event last year at trials before being reinstated. A favorite for the gold in Singapore, McKeown scratched the event, an event which saw no Australian make the semifinals.
Joining her under 28.00 this morning was Mollie O’Callaghan. More known for her freestyle prowess, the 2024 Paris Olympic champion in the 200 free, O’Callaghan is a talented backstroker, and was 27.39 in this event last year; however, she opted not to compete the event at Worlds in Singapore, giving up her spot to Hannah Fredericks. Fredericks, who finished 18th in Singapore, sliced .06 off her PB from last year and joins the sub-28 club with her 27.97 this morning.
Looking to spoil the two finishers from last year will be Iona Anderson. Seeded 3rd, Anderson blasted her way to a new season best, posting the 2nd fastest time of the morning going 27.55. Anderson, who was the 14th fastest in the world thanks to her 27.71 from last November’s Tokyo Open, is no stranger to the Australian National team as she earned the World Championship silver medal at the 2024 Doha edition of the meet. Emily Jones, who was in Anderson’s heat, had an even more impressive drop, going from 28.32 to 27.90 to qualify 4th into the final.
Men’s MC 200 Freestyle – Prelims
S14 Athletes Jack Ireland, Declan Budd and Darren Sisman were the class of the field as the trio all earned over 800 points. Ireland and Budd, who were 1:56.62 and 1:57.10 respectively, both were under the qualifying time, but could be even faster tonight, as Ireland has a personal best of 1:54.30, while Budd has a PB of 1:56.19.
Women’s MC 200 Freestyle – Prelims
We saw an Australian record as Madeline McTernan sliced .38 off her S14 record, lowering it from 2:10.63 to 2:10.25. Her time this evening cleared the qualifying time for the Para Pan-Pac games, and earned her 824 MC points, making her the lone swimmer to crack the 800 point barrier. Looking to join her under that barrier is Ruby Storm, who also took time off her entry time going from 2:14.94 to 2:14.19, a time that gave her 753 points.
Women’s 100 Butterfly – Prelims
- World Record: 54.33 – Gretchen Walsh (USA), 2026
- Commonwealth Record: 55.59 – Maggie MacNeil (CAN), 2021
- Australian Record: 55.72 – Emma McKeon (Griffith University), 2021
- All-Comers Record: 55.93 – Emma McKeon (Griffith University), 2021
- SwimAustralia Qualifying Time: 57.11
Top 8:
- Alex Perkins (USCS) – 57.01
- Lily Price (RACKL) – 57.96
- Isabella Boyd (NUN) – 58.40
- Brittany Castelluzzo (TTG) – 58.51
- Elizabeth Dekkers (STPET) – 58.58
- Josephine Crimmins (SOMAQ) – 58.87
- Jess Cole (CARL) – 58.97
- Bella Grant (USCS) / Poppy Stephen (BGRAM) – 59.27
Alexandria Perkins put up a powerful statement swim in the prelims, hitting the wall in 57.01 to win the first heat and secure the middle lane tonight in the final. Perkins, the 14th fastest ever in the event and the 2nd fastest among Australians, will be looking to improve upon her 4th place finish in this event from the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and her swim this morning certainly points towards that. Out in 26.45, Perkins used a strong back half of 30.56 to stop the clock at 57.01, a result that jumps her up one spot into a tie for 7th with Canada’s Summer McIntosh and more notably gets Perkins under the very stiff qualifying time of 57.11.
2025-2026 LCM Women 100 FLY
WALSH
WR 54.33
| 2 | Regan SMITH | USA | 55.94 | 06/05 |
| 3 | Angelina KOHLER | GER | 56.35 | 04/23 |
| 4 | Zhang Yufei | CHN | 56.64 | 06/19 |
| 5 | Yu Yiting | CHN | 56.67 | 06/19 |
| 6 | Mizuki Hirai | JPN | 56.70 | 09/13 |
| 7 | Roos Vanotterdijk | BEL | 56.74 | 05/15 |
| 8 | Alexandria PERKINS | AUS | 56.88 | 06/08 |
| 9 | Summer McINTOSH | CAN | 57.01 | 12/05 |
| 10 | Daria Klepikova | RUS | 57.20 | 06/08 |
Only one other swimmer joined Perkins under the 58.00 barrier as Lily Price, the 2nd seed, posted a time of 57.96. Price, like Perkins, was out fast, opening in the only other sub-27.00 first 50 (26.89), but couldn’t match Perkins’ closing speed, splitting 31.07. Looking to fight with Price for that second spot behind Perkins are Isabella Boyd and Brittany Castelluzzo. Boyd withdrew from the 200 IM earlier in the session to focus on this event and was rewarded with the 3rd seed tonight, using the fastest last 50 (30.55) to stop the clock at 58.40, .11 ahead of Castelluzzo’s 58.51.
Of note, Poppy Stephen and Bella Grant tied for 8th at 59.27 and likely will need to swim-off to determine the final spot in the A-final.
Men’s 50 Backstroke – Prelims
- World Record: 23.55 – Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2023
- Commonwealth Record: 24.04 – Liam Tancock (GBR), 2009
- Australian Record: 24.12 – Isaac Cooper (AUS), 2024
- All-Comers Record: 24.38 – Isaac Cooper (St Andrews), 2023
- SwimAustralia Qualifying Time: 24.53
Top 8:
- Isaac Cooper (STAND) – 24.81
- Henry Allan (BDE) – 24.84
- Jihwan Yoon (V.) (KOR) – 25.20
- Bradley Woodward (MING) – 25.32
- Kalani Ireland (SOMAQ) – 25.50
- Mark Nikolaev (SOMGC) – 25.52
- Fenwick-Kearns (MNLY) – 25.62
- Bryce Krause (FAIRH) – 25.63
- Benjamin Hance (STAND) – 25.65
Australia’s present and future in the sprint backstroke events have set themselves up for an epic clash this evening as the Australian record holder, Isaac Cooper, secured the top seed in tonight’s final with a time of 24.81, while Henry Allan, five years his junior, sits just .03 back at 24.84.
Allan, who is just 17 years old, has already been faster this season, with his 24.51 tying him with the World Record holder Kliment Kolesnikov at 9th in the World this season, and 2nd among nations attending the Commonwealth Games. Allan swam his time at April’s Australian Age Group Championships, eschewing the Australian Open, where many of his older competitors raced.
2025-2026 LCM Men 50 BACK
Kolesnikov
23.86
| 2 | Xu Jiayu | CHN | 23.92 | 06/17 |
| 3 | Pavel Samusenko | RUS | 24.12 | 06/07 |
| 4 | Oliver MORGAN | GBR | 24.36 | 04/18 |
| 5 | Georgy Yakovlev | RUS | 24.38 | 04/20 |
| 5 | Michele LAMBERTI | ITA | 24.38 | 04/14 |
| 7 | Apostolos CHRISTOU | GRE | 24.40 | 06/26 |
| 8 | Miroslav Knedla | CZE | 24.43 | 05/24 |
| 8 | Miron Lifintsev | RUS | 24.43 | 06/07 |
| 10 | Quintin McCarty | USA | 24.45 | 06/18 |
Cooper’s time appears to be a season best and jumps the 2024 World Champion in this event to sit tied for 23rd in the World this season.
mckeown is a queen
27.22 while sick is unreal
“with his 24.51 tying him with the World Record holder Kliment Kolesnikov at 9th in the World this season”
Not anymore Kilment just went 23.81 in Russia.
What’s the name of the meet? Thanks
2026 Russian swimming champs
Good start I Can’t wait for see the final tonight
Where does Allan train
Honestly extremely happy with that heats season. Not a single “bad” result, and the 100 breast in particular was faster than I thought it would be (at least for Williamson, behind him is dire as usual).
Trials pretty much going as well as they possibly could be so far.
Also is Kaylee’s 27.22 the fastest time of the year so far? That’s a little unexpected too
The Men’s 400 was impressive. It took sub-3.50 to make the A final.
At last year’s Worlds Trials, there was only 3 under that barrier in heats (8th was 3.53).
Same for the Paris Trials in ’24 (8th was 3.54).
I haven’t gone back any further, but I’d be surprised if it’s happened before.
Assume Charlie Hawke will come in for A Final tonight, in place of Kim.
He was 2 seconds better than his seed time, which I think was also a PB and bodes well for his 200 (hopefully!).
[In the M100BR, I only just realised that Haig Buckingham was missing. Seems that he’s not swimming here at all.]
Looks like an age record for Krause 25.63
Isaac vs. Henry tonight is going to be fireworks!
Can’t wait to see Isaac’s face *when* he gets beaten by Henry tonight
🔥