World Para Team Announced - Day 5 Finals Aus Swimming Trials

HIGH SCHOOL ROOKIE; LEARY AND HALL HEADLINE WORLD PARA TEAM

O’CALLAGHAN, STUBBLETY-COOK AND SHORT DOMINATE DAY FIVE FINALS

Swimming Australia tonight selected 25 Dolphins for the World Para Swimming Championships to be held in Singapore 21-27 September at the OCBC Aquatic Centre.

Rookie bolter Declan Budd, 17, joined an experienced team with 22 returning Paris Paralympians, including opening ceremony flag bearer Brenden Hall and gold medallists Alexa Leary, 23, and Ben Hance, 24.

Hall announced Paris would be his fifth and final Paralympic Games but the 32-year-old is not disappearing from the world stage  – not when there’s a chance of another 400m freestyle (S9) world title within his reach.

National Head Coach Paralympic Program Mel Tantrum said: “The 2025 World Championships campaign is in the first year of the runway to LA 2028 and the team that stands before us today is the blueprint.”

“From seasoned veterans and Paralympic champions like Rachael Watson and Tim Hodge to young rookie Declan (Budd), the team we have selected are capable of medal-winning performances across individual events.”
The past five days of racing at the Australian Swimming Trials in Sa Aquatic & Leisure Centre featured:

• Ben Hance setting a world record, the only one of the Para program, in his signature 100m backstroke (S14). His new world-best time of 56.35 secured his selection for Singapore in today’s heats.
• Jake Michel was in red-hot form, posting a PB in all six of his races, including a SB14 national record time of 1:03.74 in the 100m breaststroke that would have won him gold in Paris.
• Lex Leary came oh-so-close to her 100m freestyle (S9) world record on Day 4 – 0.01 second in fact – and admitted that she was saving herself for the big show, where she can let it rip on the world stage in Singapore.
• Now local boy Rowan Crothers, who moved from Queensland to South Australia, is back. Crothers posted the fastest 50m and 100m freestyle (S10) this year.

General Manager of Paralympic Program Anna Johnson said: “It’s been a great week of racing for our para swimmers.”

“Off the back of a successful Paralympic Games where every male Dolphin stood on the Paris podium, we are ambitious in our plan to become one of the top Paralympic swimming nations in the world by Brisbane 2032.

“Our qualifying standards are high, and our team will rise to these challenges. With world-class athletes like Ben Hance and Lex (Leary) in our ranks who keep breaking world records, you can expect nothing short of inspirational. I look forward to seeing what the team will achieve in Singapore.”

Triple Paralympian Grant ‘Scooter’ Patterson is the most senior member selected at 36 years of age. Patterson is joined by long-term pal and four-time Paralympian Ahmed Kelly, 33. The veteran pair are stalwarts of the green and gold and have shared many podiums, most notably consecutive men’s 150m individual medley SM3 (Tokyo-Paris).

The 2025 Australian Paralympic Swimming Team will head to Darwin for their staging camp in September before the Singapore World Para Swimming Championships begin on 21 September 2025.

AUSTRALIAN PARA DOLPHINS TEAM: 2025 WORLD PARA SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS, SINGAPORE

*Dolphin rookie | **Selected with medical exemption – subject to meeting performance standards prior to World Championships.

 

BREAKOUT: SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT FOR SPRINT STOCKS 

EIGHT divided into two proved once again the depth of the Dolphins female sprint stocks.

All eight finalists touched the wall at SA Aquatic & Leisure Centre under world qualifying time with the top two spots claimed by Mollie O’Callaghan (52.87) and Olivia Wunsch (53.38).

The win means the 21-year-old multiple Olympic medallist has earned four individual swims in Singapore after already nailing QT’s in the 50m back, 100m back and 200m freestyle.

Australia’s 100m sprint stocks have been world-leading for the past two Olympic cycles but head coach Rohan Taylor said tonight’s field “marked a changing of the guard” with the final boasting four teenagers in 19-year-old Wunsch, 18-year-old Milla Jansen, 19-year-old Hannah Casey and 19-year-old Jaimie De Lutiis.

“This is the first year of four-year cycle with our eyes firmly on the LA Olympics. There’s experience with Mollie and Meg (Harris), Olivia Wunsch has a Games under her belt … tonight’s 100m is the start of a blueprint that will shape this event for LA.”

Mollie O’Callaghan

“Dean (Boxall) has spoken to me about this prep, that it’s not about time, it’s just about racing. I think I’ve learned so much, probably mentally this time, not so much physically … and it’s just about racing and enjoying it.”

“I think in the long run, I’ve learnt so much about myself, and I wouldn’t change a thing.”

When Mollie asked what fun means to her:

“It’s the friendships, it’s getting to travel, getting to do what my dreams are, getting the opportunity to go around the world, to see new things. So I think fun at the end of the day is hopping in the pool, knowing that I gave it my all and got the best out of myself… as I said before, bad experiences make the best experience better.”

Olivia Wunsch

“I’ve always loved swimming, I love racing, so that’s why I train. So I’m really excited to be back on deck. We really didn’t know where I was going to be.. coming off glandular (fever) so just really excited to be back with a lot more to work on.”

“I think it’s more satisfying to touch second. I mean the time is nice, but I know there’s a lot more to work on and a lot more I can do. A little bit of fine tuning into Worlds and I’m really excited to be on the team off the back of the Olympics. I had a lot of fun tonight with the girls and it’s always such a privilege to race with them.”

In other results

Men’s 200m Breaststroke:

Zac Stubblety-Cook booked his ticket to Singapore, hitting a winning effort of 2:09.09.

The Paris silver medallist said: “Mel (his coach Mel Marshall) and I just wanted to step through this. This is the first time I have raced shaved and tapered since Paris so I can’t really complain. Lots to work on in the next five weeks and into Singapore. It’s year one out of four, so we’re taking it much more as a four-year approach.”

“The way Mel put it to me the other day was like you go from being capable but mentally not knowing how you did it, and then you swap over at some point and all of a sudden you realise, ‘Oh sh*&, how do I do this?’ And then you start thinking about it a little bit more and think about process a little bit more.

“I’ve always been very process-orientated, but it’s become much more consciously competent. So I think it’s just that adjustment of that maturity and understanding, just need to peak when I want to peak, not try and pass all the time. Roll with it, rather than try and force it all the time.”

Men’s 200m Backstroke:

With one of the best celebrations at this meet, Josh Edwards-Smith cemented an individual swim in Singapore.

The 22-year-old Griffith University swimmer clocked 1:56.94 to touch first with Brad Woodward second in 1:57.14 – also a qualifier.

Edwards-Smith admitted post-race that missing out on Paris had lit the fire to kick-start his LA campaign under new coach Mel Marshall.

Men’s 1500m Freestyle:

Sam Short has had a wow of a week.

After winning the 400m, 800m and finishing second in the 200m – the Rackley trained distance star claimed the 1500m tonight.

Short, who finished capless, was chased in the final 50m by Ben Goedemans to put up a solid time of 14:52.43 while Dean Boxall-coached Goedemans touched in 14:52.99 – a big personal best.

“It’s been a massive five days. I’ve done a lot of racing, a lot of fast swims. I really wanted to use my early speed to get a gap on Benny, because I knew he wasn’t going to die,” Short said.

Goedemans, who will make his Dolphins debut in Singapore, said: “Coming in here … I just wanted to make the 1500, and I’m making the 800 – and 1500m now.”

“I’m absolutely stoked with my result.”

Find full results here