Amazon Prime Video unveils Australian Swimming Trials commentary team and racing schedule

Posted on 18 May 2021

• The Australian Swimming Trials will take place in Adelaide from June 12 – 17

Amazon Prime Video today announced the line up of swimming commentators and the live swimming broadcast schedule ahead of the Australian Swimming Trials, which will take place in Adelaide from June 12 – 17, at today’s Amazon Prime Video Presents, hosted in Sydney. As part of the exclusive two-year partnership with Swimming Australia, Amazon Prime Video will be streaming the 2021 Australian Swimming Trials – live and exclusive in 240 countries and territories at no additional cost to Prime Members. All live swimming coverage will be available at no additional cost to Prime members, and fans can sign up or start a 30-day free trial by visiting primevideo.com.

Sports broadcaster and journalist Matt White will serve as host across the six days of live swimming events. Joining Matt as experts will be three-time Olympian Nicole Livingstone OAM, three time Olympian and gold medallist Grant Hackett OAM, and Paralympic gold medallist, Annabelle Williams OAM. Veteran sports commentator Jon Harker will be calling the action from the booth whilst dual Olympian and Olympic gold medallist Giaan Rooney OAM will be poolside. The Prime Video live broadcasting coverage of the swimming trials will be an Australian first, including a 30 minute preview show and a nightly wrap-up show.

“We’re excited to be bringing the upcoming live broadcasting of the Australian Swimming Trials to Prime members globally at no extra cost to their Prime membership,” said Hushidar Kharas, head of Prime Video Australia. “We know Australia is renowned for producing world-class competitive swimmers with all eyes on the upcoming swimming trials for their chance to compete on the international stage for the July games. We are proud of the exceptionally talented and experienced line-up of commentators who will work with Amazon Prime to deliver what will be the most comprehensive swimming trials to date.”

The live stream will run on Amazon Prime Video from Saturday June 12 through to Thursday June 17, 2021, with heats each morning from 10.30am AEST and the finals exclusive to Amazon Prime Video each evening from 7.00pm AEST. Amazon Prime Video will also broadcast the team selection announcements on the final days of competition.

“Swimming Australia is incredibly excited that our partnership with Amazon Prime Video will take the sport and our athletes to new broadcast heights in June as Australia’s best swimmers compete for team selection at the upcoming Australian Swimming Trials”, Kieren Perkins, Swimming Australia President said. “The commentary team that has been put together is outstanding, with a mix of some of Australia’s most famous Dolphins (the national swimming team) along with a number of the country’s top sporting commentators – their sporting knowledge is second to none.”

Nicole Livingstone (@NicLiv) will be lining up in 2021 at her ninth Olympic Games in Tokyo after being involved in every summer Olympics since 1988, as an athlete, host and sports commentator. 12 years on the Australian Swimming team, Livingstone competed in three Olympic, three Commonwealth and six Pan Pacific swimming championships, winning medals at every level international competition. Holding the longest winning sequence of Australian Championships with 10 consecutive 100m backstroke titles. In the world of sports media, Livingstone has had a long and distinguished career. Commencing with Wide World of Sports, Sports Saturday, Swimming and Surf Lifesaving broadcasts to hosting Commonwealth Games (1998 & 2006) along with reading national sports news on Nine News, Channel, Sports Tonight, The Project and sports presenting for weekend news services. On commentating for Prime and her fellow commentators: “Amazon Prime Video has assembled the best team in our nation to deliver the sport that Australian’s love and admire. Grant is one of my favourite swimming analysts to listen to and learn from, his insight is second to none. If I had to pick two fierce and strong women to work alongside I could not have picked better than Annie and Giaan, who both bring Gold medal experience and an ability to bring the human side of sport to life. Matt White is the sport hosts’ host admired by all for his polished presentation and will keep viewers engaged and in the know. Jon Harker will bring all of the action in the pool to life as our Dolphins shoot for glory in Tokyo.”

Matt White (@mattwhite_tv) is the complete package in sports and news broadcasting. A multiple Logie-award winning commentator, host and media executive, White is currently the daily voice of talkback sport in Sydney as host of Mornings With Matt White on radio station 1170 SEN. White also commentates the network’s NRL matches and Test Cricket and will co-anchor SEN’s 2021 Tokyo Olympics coverage. After starting out in newspapers, White made his name as one of the original hosts of Sports Tonight and Channel 10’s Supercars and Formula 1 coverage before moving to the Seven Network where he hosted and commentated Summer and Winter Olympic Games, Motorsport, National News, Today Tonight – even a Royal Wedding. After two years as head of sport at Network 10, White is loving being back behind the microphone. “This is a new era for Australian swimming – not only back on our local screens with this new format and a new home, but across the globe on Amazon Prime Video with a world-wide audience,” White said. “It’s a privilege to be leading an on-air team of such incredible talent. And we’ve all known each other for a long time – it’s going to be great fun.”

Grant Hackett (@Grant_Hackett) is an international swimming legend, having dominated world distance swimming over a decorated decade-long career. With 36 gold medals across Olympics, World Championships, Pan Pacific Championships and Commonwealth Games, Grant brings a profiled edge to his broadcast involvement. The back-to-back Olympic champion and 16 times world record holder made his broadcast debut at the 2012 London Olympics with Channel 9 and he worked with Bein Sports covering the 2016 Rio Olympics. His point of difference is his sharp intellect and technical analysis. Grant is a passionate and articulate presenter, with a genuine interest in all aspects of the sport of swimming. He is a popular figure in the global swimming community, with a plethora of experience in and out of the pool. “I am excited at the prospect of working with the entire Amazon Prime Video team for the upcoming Australian Swimming Trials,” Hackett said. “Nicole, Giaan and Annabelle bring a wealth of experience and knowledge from years of international involvement on all levels. Jon and Whitey (Matt) are hardened professionals, and they will provide extra depth and professionalism to the live coverage. The scale of Prime Video’s global audience will provide a massive boost for the sport.”

Giaan Rooney (@giaan.rooney) As an Australian Dolphin, Giaan holds medals at every level of competition, including an Olympic gold which she secured in 2004 at her second Olympics. From two Commonwealth Games gold medals at her first major international competition at just 15 years old, to two individual World Championship wins, Giaan came home with multiple medals from every major meet she contested. In 2006, Giaan retired from swimming to forge a successful career as an Australian TV presenter. Giaan’s high profile broadcast involvement with Channel 7 has included the Brisbane News team, 2018 Commonwealth Games, 2016 Rio Olympics, Australian Open coverage, commentator for the Australian Swimming Championships, and presenter on HelloWorld and The House of Wellness. Giaan has previously spent years with Channel Nine where she was involved across a range of shows including a co-anchor of Wide World of Sports, presenting stories on Getaway, Postcards, the 2010 Winter Olympics, 2012 London Olympics, Nine’s Spring Racing Coverage and the Today Show weather. “The Swimming Trials in the lead up to the Olympics are the most exciting domestic swimming event there is, so I’m absolutely thrilled to not only be in the thick of the action as the athletes chase their Olympic dreams, but to play a small part in bringing their stories to millions of sporting fans around the world with Amazon Prime Video,” Rooney said. “The cherry on top of this extraordinary ‘cake’ is being a part of one of the very best swimming broadcast teams ever assembled – I simply cannot wait!”

Annabelle Williams (@anniejowilliams) A Paralympic gold medallist, international motivational speaker, attorney, brand ambassador, board director, TV reporter and sports commentator, Annabelle competed in two Paralympic Games, broke five world records and won numerous medals for Australia, including gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Annabelle is a strong advocate for the rights of athletes and, at the age of 24, was awarded with the prestigious Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to sport. Annabelle is vice president of the Board of Paralympics Australia, chair of the Paralympics Australia Athletes’ Commission and a member of the Australian National Sports Tribunal. Annabelle is also a TV sports broadcaster and will be reporting the Tokyo Games later this year. “I am delighted to be working with Amazon Prime Video and the stellar line up of Nicole, Grant, Giaan, Jon and Matt, to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Swimming Trials to Prime Video audiences around the world,” said Williams. “As a Paralympian I am excited to be working with an organisation that is passionate about telling the incredible stories of our Paralympic athletes. Sharing their courage and resilience in the face of adversity and showcasing their incredible talents as elite athletes who are on the path to qualify for the Paralympic Games!”

Jon Harker is one of Australia’s most versatile broadcasters. Jon is a former award-winning journalist, national TV host and radio anchor. He has produced and directed documentaries, television programs and commercials, but at his core, Jon is a sports commentator. Jon has called some of the great Olympic moments. None more special or dramatic than the historic last second win of the Australian Women’s Water Polo team to take gold at the Sydney Olympics. “To be part of a new dawn on Amazon Prime Video live sports broadcasting is just so exciting. The production team behind the coverage is world class, what they will stream into 240 countries around the world will be cutting edge. And the swimming, as always, will be gripping,” said Harker. “The trials are cutthroat, young athletes who have dedicated their lives to one goal, know that in a few moments it could all be over. There will be tears of joy and heartbreak. Shakespeare couldn’t have penned better drama.”

Upcoming 2021 Australian Swimming Trials live coverage on Prime Video includes:

Saturday June 12 / Day one

10.30am AEST / Heat schedule

W 100 FLY
M 400 IM
W 400 FREE (MC)
M 400 FREE (MC)
M 100 BREAST
W 400 IM
W 200 FREE (MC)
M 200 FREE (MC)
M 400 FREE