Verhaeren: These Australian Trials Truly Are A Test For All Of Us

2018 AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING TRIALS

Video courtesy of Swimming Australia.

We unpacked the Australian Trials’ new format in our SwimSwam preview, but hear from Australian Head Coach Jacco Verhaeren himself on how he envisions the 4-day meet unrolling. Not only are the traditional semi-finals removed from the competition timeline, but the event itself is being held just 5 weeks out from the Commonwealth Games, a new model the green and gold are trying out in light of a relatively disappointing Rio Olympics and Budapest World Championships.

Speaking on-site at the Optus Aquatic Center, Verhaeren points to how the Trials are not only the test event for the actual Commonwealth Games, themselves, as they are being held in the same facility, but the new meet format and timing is a test event for the Aussie athletes as a whole.

“The facilities here are excellent and while many of our athletes train outdoors, the opportunity to swim under the Gold Coast sun in the competition venue just weeks before the Games is a major advantage for our team.

“This will be one of the biggest Trials yet and I have no doubt competition will be tough, and we will see some outstanding performances this week,” Verhaeren said.

The Honourable Kate Jones, Minster for Tourism Industry and Development and the Commonwealth Games said, “All the stars of Australian swimming will assemble on the Gold Coast this week, making for a great spectacle for locals. For the athletes, this is just as much about qualifying for the Games as it is getting a better feel for the venue.”

Verhaeren reiterates that all Australian elite swimmers are slated to swim, with no exceptions. There is, however, one man missing, as Thomas Fraser-Holmes is in the midst of serving his doping ban. Olympic silver medalist Maddie Groves is still being reported as ‘questionable’ by local Australian media.

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SeanSwimmer
6 years ago

Live stream?

Retta
Reply to  SeanSwimmer
6 years ago

Heats will be live-streamed on Swimming Australia website, which we’ll link in all our recaps; finals are only able to be viewed in Australia on Channel 7.

commonwombat
Reply to  Retta
6 years ago

Finals will not be shown live (from 1930 AEST) but rather delayed (from 2100 AEST)

commonwombat
Reply to  commonwombat
6 years ago

Correction, they will probably be live or only minimally delayed given the rest of AUS is still on ADST whereas Queensland is on AEST.

Anon
Reply to  commonwombat
6 years ago

The event starts at 830 ADST but there starting at 900 because they’re skipping the initial PAralympic events. I think the able bodied races are still live

Definitely Not Sun Yang
6 years ago

yo remember christian sprenger?

Caeleb Dressel Will Get 8 golds in Tokyo
6 years ago

I sincerely hope that McEvovy goes 47 low again to challenge Dressel. Chalmers as well. Imagine this at Pan Pacs

Dressel 46.8
McEvovy 47.1
Chalmers 47.5

Caeleb Dressel Will Get 8 golds in Tokyo

Key word: Imagine

Taa

We will know soon about the aussies. Do you think they will be in peak form after CGs? I see those guys both about .5 slower. Dressel could be anywhere from 46.9 to 47.3. I wonder if another American can take Adrian’s spot?

Aussie crawl

Can I wake you up from your dream now ??

Matterson

As much as many would like to see the Aussies around 47 low right now that doesn’t look likely. I’d love to be wrong tho!!

Sum Ting Wong
Reply to  Matterson
6 years ago

Not in a 4 day meet . I think like Jacco says , they are looking to test a new more efficient selection that is still fair . Overall it saves 4 days expenses per family easy $1,500.

Dee
6 years ago

I don’t know why, but nothing excites me like Aussie trials. Perhaps because they’ve traditionally been the earliest big nation and tend to signal the start of the new season. Can’t wait; best of luck to all the athletes.

pvdh
6 years ago

Handling a double taper or extended taper is not something Aussie coaches are familiar with. They will make mistakes and swimmers will misfire as they learn the process, but it will be for the better in the future. I just hope they dont give up on it quickly if they fail once

About Retta Race

Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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