All of the big names of Australian swimming including Cameron McEvoy, Mack Horton, Cate and Bronte Campbell, Kyle Chalmers, Emma McKeon and James Magnussen line up behind the blocks at the Australian Swimming Championships aiming to qualify for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, while para stars Ellie Cole and Blake Cochrane also headline the action.
From February 28 to March 3 the action will be covered on Channel 7, 7TWO and the 7plus app.
With the fastest textile time in the world in the men’s 100m freestyle (47.04), Cameron McEvoy will be hoping to get back to his best as he comes up against 2016 Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers, dual world champion James Magnussen, fellow Gold Coaster James Roberts and rising star Jack Cartwright all looking for a top three spot and an A qualifying time for an individual swim in one of the fans’ favourite events at the Commonwealth Games.
In the corresponding women’s event, all eyes will be on Cate Campbell, who has come back firing after a year away from competition. The current short course world record holder and fastest Australian of all time in the event will need to get the better of younger sister and dual world champion Bronte Campbell, their training partner Shayna Jack, plus the versatile Emma McKeon and world short course champion Brittany Elmslie to retain her sprint title in 2018.
Basil Zempilas leads the call with expert commentary from Olympic gold medalists Ian Thorpe, Giaan Rooney and paralympian Annabelle Williams, along with poolside interviews from Nathan Templeton.
Pictured top: Basil Zempilas