Courtesy: Swimming Australia
Tickets go on sale today for the blockbuster Swimming Australia World Trials as the country’s best swimmers prepare to return to the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) from 13-18 June.
Australia’s biggest names in swimming will battle it out for a spot on the Australian Dolphins Swim Team that will contest the World Aquatics World Championships in Japan in July.
It’s another opportunity for Melbourne swim fans to see the Australian Dolphins on home soil as the excitement also builds for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games that are just over a year away.
The women’s 100m freestyle is tipped to be one of the most hotly contested events on the program with big names including Emma McKeon, Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, Madi Wilson and Meg Harris all set to star.
Olympic Games champion Zac Stubblety-Cook will headline the men’s breaststroke competition, as he prepares to defend his current 200m breaststroke world title. Commonwealth Games champion Sam Short will come into the World Trials in red hot form having won the 400m, 800m and 1,500m freestyle at the Australian Swimming Championships last week.
Olympic Champion Ariarne Titmus will look to book her spot on the team in the 400m freestyle, as she prepares for what is tipped to be the ‘race of the century’ come the World Championships. She will meet former Olympic and current World Champion Katie Ledecky (USA), and recent world record holder, 16 year old Summer McIntosh (Canada).
Since McIntosh broke Titmus’ world record, the hype continues to build for the World Championships showdown. Post her 400m freestyle win at the recent Australian Championships, Titmus said this is an exciting time for the sport.
“World records are there to be broken, it means the world of swimming is moving forward. I think it just makes it more exciting for our event… I would love to be a fan of swimming right now. I don’t think there has ever been a race where there are three women swimming so fast at the same time and I think that is very cool to watch.
“I love swimming and I just go out there doing my best and all of this [results] is a bonus now. I’ve achieved everything I’ve wanted to achieve in my swimming career. It’s more about my motivation now is what I can get out of myself and I truly believe I have more to offer the sport and I still love the sport and that’s really why I’m swimming,” said Titmus.
The blockbuster swimming showdown will be one that sporting fans won’t want to miss, coming just six months after the passionate swimming fan base turned out in droves to cheer on the Aussies at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m).
With Australian team spots up for grabs there will be a lot at stake for the swimmers and fans are expecting to see plenty of awe-inspiring performances.
Swimming Australia once again thanks the Victorian State Government and Visit Victoria for their support of these world class events.
Tickets go on sale from midday today, Wednesday 26 April and are available by clicking here.
Considering the depth of the W 50m and 100m, I am wondering if McKeon will aim to get a spot on the 4x200m again. There is no guarantee she will be able to secure an individual 50m or 100m swim over the next year….
Can’t wait for trials. Will be very interesting to see how much of a difference there is from Nationals.
Can’t wait to see the Aussies break some records. And AT hit the nail on the head. 400 FR has never been this exciting. I hope she breaks the WR at trials and Katie too. How exciting would that be. A WR title changing hands three times over in two months – assuming Summer breaks it at Worlds (my ideal scenario 🙂
It was the Katie Ledecky show for far too long. Even KL is more excited because she no longer has to race her shadow.
Katie won’t break the 400 record, and if she does it certainly won’t be at Trials. She might break the record or get under her previous PB, but she still could wind up third.
Good luck to all