Newest Dolphins receive gold caps on eve of Pan Pacs

AUSTRALIA’S newly minted Dolphins today received their gold caps in front of the full team and special guest, swimming legend Daniel Kowalski ahead of the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California.

The 43-strong team welcomed rookies Jacqueline Davison-McGovern (#879) and Euan Linley (#883) – who will compete in the 10km open water tomorrow at Long Beach Marine Stadium – to the Dolphins’ family.

The pair will line up alongside reigning world champion Moesha Johnson, who is unbeaten in the 10km this year, and Paris Olympian Nick Sloman, a proven performer and bronze medallist in the men’s 10km at the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships.

Meanwhile Chelsea Douyere (nee Gubecka) adds more than a decade of experience to the Dolphin’s open water side, alongside pool convert Tiana Kritzinger, fresh from the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Since 2012, the Dolphins have made the gold cap sacrosanct for open teams and today’s presentation included a motivational video wrapping up the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and throwing forward to the green and gold pathway to LA Games.

The 2026 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships take place from August 10–15, 2026, with the pool competition from August 12 at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center.

The tight, four-day pool format will feature the likes of Meg Harris, Sam Short, Lani Pallister, Sam Williamson, Alex Perkins and ever-green Zac Stubblety-Cook.