Australia Announces World University Games Team

Swimming Australia announced the 25 swimmer team that will be representing Australia at the World University Games in Kazan, Russia from July 6-17th.

The team was choosen based on results of the 2013 EnergyAustralia Championships that were held in Adelaide from April 26-May 3.

After the team was selected Australia’s Director of High Performance Michael Scott expressed just how impressed he was with how the swimmers performed at the selection meet, “I was impressed with the times the swimmers posted at the EnergyAustralia Swimming Championships, but now I am looking for this team to raise the bar again and set the world standard in Russia,” Scott said.

This team will have no lack of experience. Included on the roster will be three London Olympians; Daniel Arnamnart, Ryan Napoleon and Jayden Hadler.

Arnamnart, who swam the 100 backstroke in London, will be going into the games ranked 9th in the world in the 50 backstroke having posted a time of 24.90 earlier this year.

Napoleon, who swam the 400 freestyle and was a member of the 4 x 200 freestyle relay team in London, is currently ranked fifth in the world in the 400 freestyle with a time of 3:46.26, which is well under the FINA A standard of 3:49.55, but with a third place finish at the national championships he failed to qualify for the World Championship team.

Hadler, who swam both the 100 butterfly and 200 IM at the Olympic Games, had a lacklustre meet in Adelaide placing sixth in both the 100 butterfly (53.13) and 200 IM (2:01.42).

Chef De Mission of the Australian Uniroos, Martin Roberts, who is a swimming champion in his own right, having represented Australia at two Olympic Games and claimed two Universiade gold medals in his career, is excited about Australia’s prospects.

“The swimming team has always been very successful at the Summer Universiades. This team has a good mix of experience and youth and we hope to build on the success of the past games.”

“If recent performances at the Australian Championships are anything to go by, we are in for an exciting Games.” Roberts said.