Australians Pallister, McEvoy, O’Callaghan To Race at China Swimming Open in March

2026 CHINA SWIMMING OPEN

• March 19th – March 22nd
• Longgang Universiade Center Natatorium
• LCM (50m)

Next month, the 2026 China Swimming Open will take place at the Longgang Universiade Center Natatorium and will feature numerous top international talents, with the most recently announced participants being Australians Lani Pallister, Cameron McEvoy, and Mollie O’Callaghan, as reported by Chinese Swimming News and Results on X.

Official Swimmers Announcement for China Open (March 19-22)

Cameron McEvoy
Lani Pallister
Mollie O'Callaghan pic.twitter.com/UiNnbFEkVq

— Chinese Swimming News and Results (@CHNswim_fan) February 9, 2026

In addition to the athletes from China competing, including 13-year-old Yu Zidi and World Record holder Pan Zhanle, the event’s confirmed participants outside of the country are among the fastest performers in the world, with the three most recent Australians joining Kyle Chalmers as representatives of their country.

The United States will also be represented at these championships, with major names including Jack Alexy, Gretchen Walsh, and Kate Douglass, among others.

Non-Chinese Athletes reportedly confirmed to compete as of February 9:

• Jack Alexy (USA)
• Thomas Ceccon (ITA)
• Kyle Chalmers (AUS)
• Kate Douglass (USA)
• Noe Ponti (SUI)
• Regan Smith (USA)
• Alex Walsh (USA)
• Gretchen Walsh (USA)
• Cameron McEvoy (AUS)
• Lani Pallister (AUS)
• Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS)

The showdowns between Pan Zhanle, Chalmers, and Alexy was already one to keep an eye on, and the addition of the 2024 Olympic Gold Medalist and reigning World Champion McEvoy adds major depth to the sprint freestyle fields. These four men all sit as top ten performers all time in the 100 freestyle.

O’Callaghan stormed to a short course 200 free world record in October at the World Cup stop in Toronto, touching over two seconds ahead of runner-up Pallister (1:51.75) in 1:49.36. At that same meet, O’Callaghan finished runner up to Douglass in the 100 free (50.82) as the American would go on to break the World Record in 49.93.

With no World Championships on the 2026 calendar, this competition will serve as an opportunity to see some of the fastest performers on the planet go head-to-head in the pool prior to the Commonwealth Games, European Championships, Pan Pacific Championships, and Asian Games later in the year.