2024 SOUTH AUSTRALIA STATE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
- January 19th – January 21st
- SA Aquatic & Leisure Center
- LCM (50m)
- Entries/Results
The 2024 South Australia State Open Championships are set to begin on January 19th, marking Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers‘ first races of the year.
Representing Marion, 25-year-old Chalmers is entered in the men’s 50m/100m free, 50m/100m fly and 800m free events.
Although the latter distance race is outside the sprint star’s wheelhouse, this is the second consecutive State Championships where he’s added the event to his lineup. Last year he collected silver in a time of 8:22.93 while eventual multi-medalist in Fukuoka Sam Short grabbed the gold in 8:00.93. Short is not entered in the meet this time around, nor is Chalmers’ Marion teammate Matt Temple, for that matter
However, both Campbell sisters appear among the entrants to add superstar power, with Cate Campbell listed in the 50m/100m free while sister Bronte Campbell is expected to take on the 50m back in addition to that same pair of sprints.
More Aussies on which to keep an eye include Olivia Wunsch, Tara Kinder, Marcus Da Silva and Isabella Boyd.
While nations to the tune of Japan have sent squads to this meet in this past, the 2024 edition sees a smaller sprinkling of international athletes. Norway’s backstroker Ingeborg Loeyning is set to compete, as is Germany’s Josha Salchow.
South Africa’s Roland Schoeman also looks to be in South Australia for this competition. The 43-year-old will challenge Chalmers in both the 50m free and 50m fly events next week as a stop along his quest to vie for a spot on the RSA Olympic roster.
only the strong survive
Long Live King Kyle
I’m surprised to see that Madison Wilson, a SA based athlete, has not entered to swim at the championships. Her last competition were Worlds last year.
Word is she hasn’t swum since. Rumours she was retiring but may as well keep going at least until trials.
Schoeman will look to challenge Chalmers? How? If this was 2004-2007…
Can’t ever count Schoeman out
His 400 free entry is of more interest than his 800, although I suspect this 400 is just a warmup for his 50 free later in the session.
#distancerevolution
sub 8 minutes?
His best 800m is around 8.20, so anything below that would be good.