Slated for Singas

SWIMMING Australia today announced a six-member team for the 2025 Open Water World Championships in Singapore later this year.

Olympic quartet of Paris silver medallist Moesha Johnson, Chelsea Gubecka, Nick Sloman and Kyle Lee will be joined by rookies Tayla Martin and Thomas Raymond in a world-class Australian team now headed by experienced coach Fernando Possenti, who will spearhead the next four-year open water cycle towards the 2028 LA Olympic Games.

Johnson and Lee were automatically selected for Singapore following their respective 5km titles at the nationals in Busselton in January while Gubecka, Martin, Sloman and Raymond cemented selection at the Open Water World Cup meet in Egypt last month.

For Martin and Raymond, Singapore will mark their World Championship debut.

Seven events will be held in the waters off Sentosa Island from July 15-20:
* Women’s and men’s 10km;
* Women’s and men’s 5km;
* Mixed 1500m relay;
* And for the first time at senior level a 3km knockout sprint for the men’s and women’s field.

The knockout sprint will feature athletes competing in consecutive 1500m; 1000m and 500m knockout rounds with Top 10 finishes from each heat advancing to the next round. Only a short break will separate each race.

For dual Olympian Gubecka, this will be her eighth World Championships, the most of any Dolphin in the pool and open water program.

Head coach Possenti, who joined the Swimming Australia’s High performance program in January, congratulated all athletes selected.

“I am excited by what I saw in Egypt and I am also excited by what this team can do over the next four years,” he said.

“I have watched the Australian team develop and grow internationally for the past 12 months and this is a very balanced program that I know can challenge the very best swimmers in the world.

“Moesha (Johnson) and Chelsea (Gubecka) they are very, very smart swimmers; Kyle and Nick are experienced, tough campaigners and the talent coming through is exciting.

“To have two rookies  on the team in Tayla (Martin) and Thomas (Raymond) speaks of the depth and we will maintain this momentum.”

Lee, Thomas and Sloman will be part of an Australian contingent that will now attend an altitude camp in Flagstaff, Arizona for three weeks.

Singapore World Championship Athletes:

Women:

Moesha Johnson (Griffith Uni): 10km, 5km, 3km

Chelsea Gubecka (Chandler):10km

Tayla Martin (Carlile): 5km

*Second spot for 3km knockout to be confirmed

Men:

Nick Sloman (Melbourne Vicentre): 10km and 3km

Kyle Lee (North Coast): 10km, 5km, 3km

Thomas Raymond (Noosa): 5km

NOTE: 4x1500m relay: To be confirmed

Singapore World Championship Coaches:

Head coach: Fernando Possenti

Team coach: Ian Mills