If you build it, they will come

IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME

By Dolphins Head Coach Rohan Taylor

The past 72 hours has been genuinely eye-opening.

We knew Australia vs The World could be a juggernaut for change but the strength and overwhelming feedback – from media, fans, and broader audiences – has been a clarion call for transformation.

The response has made one thing very clear: this is something we must build on, protect, and purposely and deliberately move forward.

The language coming back to us is powerful. People are saying “Australia is leading the future of the sport”, that we have once again shown what is possible when innovation, performance, and fan experience are brought together. One reflection in particular captures it perfectly:

This wasn’t tradition polished. This was tradition challenged. Fans didn’t watch from afar—they felt it. Athletes didn’t just race—they performed. The sport didn’t explain itself—it captivated. This is the shift swimming needs: fewer empty grandstands, more lived moments; fewer formats built for officials, more built for humans. Australian swimming isn’t catching up to the future—it’s leading it.

That is exactly what we need to hold on to. This moment shows what our sport can be when we prioritise connection, clarity, and experience – without compromising performance. The opportunity now is to capture this momentum, formalise it, and showcase it, ensuring that what we’ve created becomes a platform for where swimming goes next, not a one-off moment.

This continued innovation within the event space will see us launch a new event concept in 2026, to be staged towards the end of the year.

We want to continue to give Aussie fans the chance to see our athletes entertain in home waters, as well as attract some of the best international talent to Australia.

We want our athletes to be the centrepiece of this exciting event concept while also bringing swimming fans closer to the action and like Friday night, give them a chance to decide on some of the races and outcomes.

We are hoping to be able to announce event dates and further details early next year.

But I can promise you this … we will continue to deliver swimming as you’ve never seen before and where audiences value authenticity as much as athleticism. Swimming is more than a sport – it is a shared experience which we will continue to support with new events that showcase new markets and new voices.

Stay tuned.