2025 VICTORIAN OPEN LC CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Friday, February 14th – Sunday, February 16th
- Melbourne Sports Centres (MSAC) Outdoor Pool
- LCM (50m)
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheet
The 2025 Victorian Open Long Course Championships are slated for this weekend at the Melbourne Sports Centres (MSAC) outdoor pool.
Although not a qualifying competition, this 3-day affair is an important benchmark on the way to the all-important World Championships selection meet, the 2025 Australian Swimming Trials on the calendar for June 16th – June 21st.
Highlighting the domestic entries is 21-year-old Olympian Maximillian Giuliani, set to take on the men’s 100m, 200m 400m and 800m freestyle events.
Giuliani recently changed up training bases, following coach Richard Scarce in his move from Miami to TSS Aquatics. The freestyle ace last competed at the LC Prep Meet in November where he notched a time of 49.84 in the 100m free and 3:57.04 in the 400m free.
Rising 18-year-old Olivia Wunsch is also entered for the Vic Open, set to race the 50m/100m free and 50m/100m fly events.
Carlile’s Wunsch has already competed this year at the South Australian State Open Championships last month. She clocked times of 25.32 in the 50m free, 54.72 in the 100m free and 26.76 in the 50m fly to get her 2025 year started.
The breaststroking discipline will not be void of high-profile athletes, with Aussies Sam Williamson, Matt Wilson, Joshua Yong and Daniel Cave on the men’s side and 15-year-olds Sienna Toohey and Lily Koch on the women’s
Among several notable Aussies is a handful of international stars to help elevate this elite competition.
Japan’s 3-time Olympian Rikako Ikee will spar in the sprint free and fly events while New Zealand’s Lewis Clareburt is expected to make six appearances, including in his signature 400m IM.
Key Entries
Iona Anderson
Isabella Boyd
Jack Carr
Daniel Cave
Victoria Catterson (IRL)
Lewis Clareburt (NZL)
Maximillian Giuliani
Rikako Ikee (JPN)
Lee Juho (KOR)
Lily Koch
Hayley Mackinder
Lucas Matzerath (GER)
Inez Miller
William Petric
Matt Wilson
Ai Soma (JPN)
Sienna Toohey
Sam Williamson
Olivia Wunsch
Joshua Yong
54.16 for Olivia in the 100 free
26.66 for williamson
Very swift for Feb
1:07.19 for toohey, 1:08.48 for koch
Sienna Toohey was just outside her PB with 1:07.19. Was out quite a bit slower than when she set her PB last year.
Lily Koch lowers her PB to 1:08.48. #6 all time 16 year old
Lily is quite a bit stronger off the start and turn but Sienna had too much swim speed.
Giuliani scratched the 4 free final to focus on the 1 free
Wunsch matched her 50 fly PB in the heats 26.34
And PB for Lily Koch in the 100 breast heats 1:08.78. Long course times starting to catch up to her short course.
Slower in the final. Looked like she was forcing it.
One notable omission from this list is Tara Kinder, first-time Dolphin from WC in Budapest. Kinder took out four event at selection trials,1&2 breaststroke and the 2&4 IM. She sits as 2nd all-time SCM Aussie in the 400 IM and 200 Breast (behind legend Leisel Jones). At her home pool this weekend, she has a tough training program ahead, skipping the 100 breast and adding the 200 fly and 200 free. Kinder picked up a bronze medal in Budapest as a heat swimmer in the 4×200 free.
With several established men’s names missing from the IM events, look out for Warringah Aquatics teenager Sam Higgs, particularly in the 400 IM.
Sam Williamson has gone missing pretty much since swimming 100 breast heats in Paris .. wonder if he’s been injured or something recently
Commenter said under another article that he took an extended break after his disappointing Olympics.
Should be and interesting clash between Williamson and Yong. Williamson having posted a lifetime best 58.80 at the trials for Paris, well in front of Yong’s 59.48. Early days before WC Trials but you would think Williamson will have something to prove.
Williamson’s not usually one to produce fast in season swims but maybe this time will be different.
After that 26.6 you might be right. Keen to see what he does in the 100.
he avoided the head to head by doing a time trial in the first 50!
Do we know who had Covid in Paris aside from Lani? I feel like Sam is one of those