Ian Thorpe Declares Australia’s 41-Strong Swim Team for Paris As The Country’s Best Ever
Four-time Olympians Cameron McEvoy and Bronte Campbell will spearhead a 41-strong swimming team announced tonight after a record breaking and emotion charged Trials meet concluded tonight at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre with Australia’s Olympic golden boy Ian Thorpe declaring the team as Australia’s “best ever.”
AUS OLY TEAM 24 Bronte Campbell Photo Courtesy Wade Brennan (Wade’s Photos)
The 41 pool athletes join another three athletes already selected to Marathon Swimming for an overall swimming team size of 44 – with Moesha Johnson, already selected to compete in the 10km marathon swimming, also qualifying tonight in the women’s 1500m.
The team also features three athletes Kyle Chalmers, Brianna Throssell and Emma McKeon who will represent Australia at their third Olympics, 13 returning for their second Games and 23 making their Olympic debut.
The depth and talent of Australian swimming is on full display, with 16 of the athletes selected tonight already Olympic medallists. Fifteen claimed World Championship gold in 2023, prompting Thorpe, who has been in commentary all week with fellow Olympic gold medallist Giaan Rooney, to say: “This is the best Australian Olympic Swim Team we’ve ever had – there is no doubt.”
The selection followed the conclusion of an incredible week of racing by athletes at the Australian Swimming Trials, which included Ariarne Titmus’ world record 200m freestyle swim.
The team announcement followed an emotionally charged final night of swimming which witnessed a changing of the guard with the arrival of Shayna Jack and Meg Harris as individual contenders in the 50 metres freestyle for Paris and the departure of two legends in Emma McKeon and Cate Campbell.
On a roll, Jack added the 50m freestyle to her 100m qualification against some of the toughest fields in world swimming and becoming the fourth Australian under 24 seconds – clocking a winning time of 23.99.
With Harris earning her first individual Olympic appearance after her role in the 4x100m freestyle, in 24.26.
AUS OLY TEAM 24 CAM MCEVOY Photo Courtesy Wade Brennan (Wade’s Photos)
And behind the qualifying class of 2024 were the 30-year-old defending Olympic champion McKeon and 32-year Campbell who has been in three of the last four 50m Olympic finals – winning bronze at 15 in Beijing at her first Games in 2008.
McKeon touching in 24.32 – agonisingly, just 0.06 behind Harris and the chance to defend her gold medal from Tokyo.
And back in seventh was Campbell in 24.85 – who touched the wall for the last time – after missing her bid for a fifth Olympic team – the final lap in an extraordinary career for a dominant sprint freestyle force who spent 17 years on the Australian Swim Team.
And all those memories came flooding back for Cate at the conclusion of the race as she came to terms with the fact that one amazing career had come to an end.
With the seven finalists, including little sister Bronte, herself now a four-time Olympian herself, who was fifth in the final, swamping Cate with an emotional farewell to a girl who grew up in front of Australia.
A swimming mad country who witnessed and celebrated the growth of a woman who became the leader of the pack, who will leave an untapped legacy that will live on in the annals of swimming in Australia.
The images that followed with a tearful Cate surrounded by some of the girls who will carry the baton on to Paris and beyond displayed the amazing camaraderie.
Others confirming their places on the team were 400IM swimmers Brendon Smith (Griffith University, QLD) in 4:10.18 and Will Petric (Nunawading, VIC) 4:11.78 in the men’s event and Jenna Forrester (St Peters Western, QLD) 4:38.16 who was second to already qualified Ella Ramsay (Chandler, QLD) 4:36.56
AUS OLY TEAM 24 EMMA MCKEON Photo Courtesy Wade Brennan (Wade’s Photos)
While Lani Pallister (Griffith University, QLD) put the finishing touches to her emphatic Trials meet qualifying for her fourth event, winning the 1500m freestyle in impressive fashion in 15:53.79 – after earlier qualifying in the 400, 800 and 4x200m freestyle – already qualified 10km open water contender Moesha Johnson (Griffith University, QLD) 15:57.85.
Athlete bios available here – Full team list below
Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission for Paris 2024 Anna Meares said tonight’s announcement was a time to celebrate for athletes after a week of fierce competition.
“I am delighted to announce our Dolphins who have earned their place in the Australian Olympic Team for Paris 2024,” Ms Meares said.
“We have witnessed an extraordinary week of the toughest competition. The way these athletes have driven each other has made such an impact.
“To the parents, families and supporters whose passion has been evident this week, I say thank you for the contribution you have made. To Swimming Australia and the coaches – you have produced an amazing high-performance environment to bring us to this point.
“My congratulations to every athlete – you can all be very proud of what you have achieved.
Head Coach Rohan Taylor congratulated the team on their selection.
“This has been an outstanding Australian Swimming Trials at Brisbane Aquatic Centre – with so many quality swimmers competing fiercely for limited spots,” Taylor said.
AUS OLY TEAM 24 KYLE CHALMERS Photo Courtesy Wade Brennan (Wade’s Photos)
“Congratulations to every single Dolphin selected for Paris 2024 – you have earned your place on the Australian Swimming Team and congratulations also to your friends, families, coaches and supporters – all of you have been part of this Olympic achievement.
“This team is balanced by debutants through to record breakers and stalwarts – from Cam McEvoy and Bronte Campbell at their fourth Games, through to rookies Ben Armbruster and Olivia Wunsch.
“This is a team that will do Australia proud – in and out of the pool – and we can’t wait to see competition unfold in Saint-Denis at the Centre Aquatique Olympique and in the Seine.
“We congratulate our coaching staff as well and are thrilled to announce Kate Sparkes and Kareena Lee as part of the Dolphins Olympic coaching family.”
Australian Olympic Team for Paris 2024 – Swimming
Australian Olympic Team for Paris 2024 – Swimming
| Name | Age | Games | CLUB | State | |||||||||
| Iona Anderson | 18 | Debut | Breakers | WA | |||||||||
| Ben Armbruster | 22 | Debut | Bond | QLD | |||||||||
| Jaclyn Barclay | 17 | Debut | St Peters Western | QLD | |||||||||
| Bronte Campbell | 30 | 4th (2012, 2016, 2020) | Cruiz | ACT | |||||||||
| Jack Cartwright | 25 | Debut | St Peters Western | QLD | |||||||||
| Kyle Chalmers | 25* | 3rd (2016, 2020) | St Andrews, | QLD | |||||||||
| Abbey Connor | 19 | Debut | USC Spartans | QLD | |||||||||
| Isaac Cooper | 20 | 2nd (2020) | St Andrews | QLD | |||||||||
| Elizabeth Dekkers | 20 | Debut | Chandler | QLD | |||||||||
| Jenna Forrester | 21 | Debut | St Peters Western | QLD | |||||||||
| Maximillian Giuliani | 20* | Debut | Miami | QLD | |||||||||
| Meg Harris | 22 | 2nd (2020) | Rackley | QLD | |||||||||
| Zac Incerti | 27* | 2nd (2020) | USC Spartans | QLD | |||||||||
| Shayna Jack | 25 | Debut | St Peters Western | QLD | |||||||||
| Moesha Johnson** | 26 | Debut | Griffith University | QLD | |||||||||
| Se-Bom Lee | 23 | 2nd (2020) | SOSC | NSW | |||||||||
| Cameron McEvoy | 30 | 4th (2012, 2016, 2020) | Somerville House | QLD | |||||||||
| Emma McKeon | 30 | 3rd (2016, 2020) | Griffith University | QLD | |||||||||
| Kaylee McKeown | 22* | 2nd (2020) | Griffith University | QLD | |||||||||
| Thomas Neill | 22 | 2nd (2020) | Rackley | QLD | |||||||||
| Mollie O’Callaghan | 20 | 2nd (2020) | St Peters Western | QLD | |||||||||
| Lani Pallister | 22 | Debut | Griffith University | QLD | |||||||||
| Alexandria Perkins | 23* | Debut | USC Spartans | QLD | |||||||||
| Jamie Perkins | 19 | Debut | St Peters Western | QLD | |||||||||
| William Petric | 19* | Debut | Nunawading | VIC | |||||||||
| Ella Ramsay | 19* | Debut | Chandler | QLD | |||||||||
| Samuel Short | 20 | Debut | Rackley Swim Team | QLD | |||||||||
| Brendon Smith | 23 | 2nd (2020) | Griffith University | QLD | |||||||||
| Flynn Southam | 19 | Debut | Bond | QLD | |||||||||
| Jenna Strauch | 27 | 2nd (2020) | Miami | QLD | |||||||||
| Zac Stubblety-Cook | 25 | 2nd (2020) | Chandler | QLD | |||||||||
| Kai Taylor | 20 | Debut | St Peters Western | QLD | |||||||||
| Matthew Temple | 24 | 2nd (2020) | Marion | VIC | |||||||||
| Brianna Throssell | 28 | 3rd (2016, 2020) | St Peters Western | QLD | |||||||||
| Ariarne Titmus | 23 | 2nd (2020) | St Peters Western | QLD | |||||||||
| Samuel Williamson | 26 | Debut | Melbourne Vicente | VIC | |||||||||
| Elijah Winnington | 24 | 2nd (2020) | St Peters Western | QLD | |||||||||
| Bradley Woodward | 25* | Debut | Mingara, | NSW | |||||||||
| Olivia Wunsch | 18 | Debut | Carlile | NSW | |||||||||
| William Yang | 25 | Debut | SOSC | NSW | |||||||||
| Joshua Yong | 22* | Debut | UWA West Coast | WA | |||||||||
*will have birthday between seclection and the Games.
The swimming events will take place from 27 July to 4 August at the Centre Aquatique Olympique in Paris.
Debut (23)
Iona Anderson, Ben Armbruster, Jaclyn Barclay Jack Cartwright, Abbey Connor, Elizabeth Dekkers, Jenna Forrester, Maximillian Giuliani, Shayna Jack, Moesha Johnson, Lani Pallister, Alexandria Perkins, Jamie Perkins, William Petric, Ella Ramsay, Samuel Short, Flynn Southam, Kai Taylor, Samuel Williamson, Bradley Woodward, Olivia Wunsch, William Yang, Joshua Yong
2nd Games (13)
Isaac Cooper, Meg Harris, Zac Incerti, Se-Bom Lee, Kaylee McKeown, Thomas Neill, Mollie O’Callaghan, Brendon Smith, Jenna Strauch, Zac Stubblety-Cook, Matthew Temple, Ariarne Titmus, Elijah Winnington
3rd Games (3)
Kyle Chalmers, Emma McKeon, Brianna Throssell,
4th Games (2)
Bronte Campbell, Cameron McEvoy
Cate’s Lap Lap…..Photos Courtesy Delly Carr Swimming Australia
CATE’S LAST LAP Cate Campbell and Bronte Campbell Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
CATE’S LASP LAP Cate Campbell and Bronte Campbell Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
Thankyou Swimming World for a delightful little tribute to Cate Campbell within this article. Bitter sweet to see her go.
As to our team;
Women:
STRONG. A WR snd 4 near misses!
Men:?
Mmmfff!
Weak.
Be lucky to win a Gold and even medalling will be tough!
I wouldn’t sell Sam short in the 400…. (-;