World records and rising stars: 10 storylines to follow at the Australian swimming trials

As the circus that was the Enhanced Games quickly fades from view, attention turns to Australia’s top swimmers before next month’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Pan Pacific Championships in California in August.

This week’s trials at Sydney Olympic Park double as selection for both Australian teams, while para swimmers will also be chasing Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacs berths when competition begins on Monday. Heats start at 11am and finals from 7.30pm on 9Now.

The usual stars will be on deck, but a new generation of talent will also try to force their way into the Dolphins squad before the Commonwealth Games begin on July 24.

Here are the key storylines:

Can McEvoy break his world record?

Australia’s Cam McEvoy made history in March when he lowered Cesar Cielo’s long-standing 50m freestyle world record to 20.88 seconds. Already a world champion and Olympic gold medallist, McEvoy shaved 0.18s off his personal best to complete one of Australian swimming’s most remarkable comeback stories after effectively stepping away from the sport in 2021.

He returns to the blocks on Wednesday in his pet event to chase another fast time a fortnight after Enhanced Games organisers celebrated a so-called “world record” by Kristian Gkolomeev, who clocked 20.81s in Las Vegas. The Greek’s swim will never be ratified because it was achieved with performance-enhancing drugs and a banned swimsuit. McEvoy would take enormous satisfaction from reminding everyone what is possible without either.

The battle for second behind McEvoy

While McEvoy appears untouchable, the race for the second Dolphins berth in the men’s 50m freestyle shapes as one of the most fascinating contests of the meet. Jamie Jack, younger brother of Olympian Shayna Jack, is pushing for his first Australian team after clocking an impressive time of 21.43s last year.

Isaac Cooper, better known as a backstroker, showed genuine sprint freestyle potential when he swam 21.65s in 2023, although he has struggled to recapture that form. Then there is 18-year-old Sydney prospect Ollie Moclair, whose 21.73s in April flirted with the junior world record and announced him as one of the country’s brightest talents.

How fast can Short go?

The stars would have to align for a 400m freestyle world record to go on the opening day of competition, but Sam Short has been chipping away behind the scenes. It has been three years since his breakthrough world championship triumph in a time of 3:40.68. But times of 3:43.49 and 3:42.53 this year suggest he is closing in on his best. Ian Thorpe’s Commonwealth record of 3:40.08 and Lukas Martens’ world record of 3:39.96 are in Short’s sights. He may face competition from Paris Olympics silver medallist Elijah Winnington, who bombed out in the heats of the event at last year’s world championships.

Pallister’s rise continues

Lani Pallister’s 2025 season was outstanding. Her move to Dean Boxall’s St Peters Western squad proved a masterstroke as she claimed silver in the 800m freestyle and bronze in the 1500m freestyle at the world championships in Singapore. She also finished just 0.36s behind the great Katie Ledecky in the 800m and also got the better of Canadian superstar Summer McIntosh. When that trio meet again at the Pan Pacs, it promises to be one of the races of the season, particularly given Pallister broke Ledecky’s short-course world record over 800m in October. Keep an eye on the clock every time she dives in.

What will McKeown produce?

Kaylee McKeown, a five-time Olympic gold medallist, rarely disappoints and will contest the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke, along with the 200m individual medley. The latter is first on her program on Monday. McKeown is the world record holder in the 50m and 200m backstroke and would love to reclaim the 100m mark from American rival Regan Smith. She has already flagged these will be her final Commonwealth Games.

Can O’Callaghan find another gear?

Mollie O’Callaghan is the undisputed queen of the 200m freestyle, but the 100m remains fiercely competitive. American rising star Anna Moesch recently broke Simone Manuel’s national record in a time of 51.94s, the second-fastest swim in history, and quicker than O’Callaghan’s personal best of 52.08s. It’s been three years since O’Callaghan set a PB in this event, and she would love to go faster at the trials, particularly given she was pipped for gold at last year’s world championships by Marrit Steenbergen.

How will Stubblety-Cook and Ramsay go after Griffith drama?

Olympians Zac Stubblety-Cook and Ella Ramsay have arrived in Sydney after their messy departure from Mel Marshall’s Griffith University program on the Gold Coast and subsequent move to Victoria. Stubblety-Cook, the Tokyo Olympic champion and Paris silver medallist in the 200m breaststroke, missed last year’s world championships with a back injury. After a surprise defeat by Bailey Lello at the Australian Open in April, Stubblety-Cook will be eager to make amends. Ramsay also faces a busy week across four individual events.

How is Chalmers placed?

Though Kyle Chalmers insists his peak swimming years are still to come, his impending 28th birthday this month means history is stacked against him. Chalmers is entered in three events: his favoured 100m freestyle, plus the 50m and 100m butterfly. Chalmers hasn’t lowered his personal best of 47.08s for the freestyle since 2019, leaving McEvoy’s Australian record of 47.04s intact. However, he is the clear gold-medal favourite in Glasgow after winning four years ago in Birmingham.

Which stars will emerge?

Beyond Moclair, a wave of young talent is ready to make a splash. Last year, 16-year-old breaststroker Sienna Toohey broke into her first Australian team; it will be fascinating to see how much she has progressed since then. One Commonwealth Games bolter is 17-year-old Henry Allan, a lanky backstroker from Bendigo who dominated the recent junior nationals with five victories. Held back from the senior ranks last year, Allan now gets his chance to prove why he’s being touted as a future star.

What will interest levels be?

Swimming Australia has shifted trials to Sydney for the first time since 2015 in a bid to increase crowds, but the build-up has felt unusually subdued for a Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacs selection meet. The mid-week scheduling suits broadcasters, but whether it suits fans is another question. At a time when Australian athletics is enjoying a golden run, this week will provide a gauge of how much public interest remains in a swimming team that has thrived on the international stage for the last five years.

Interestingly, Channel Nine is televising these trials but do not hold the rights to the Commonwealth Games, which will be shown on Channel Seven. However, Nine is showing the Pan Pacs. Australia can enter three swimmers per event at the Commonwealth Games, compared to the usual two at Pan Pacs against the United States, Canada and Japan. The Commonwealth Games are in a bad timezone for Australian audiences, while Nine, owner of this masthead, has the rights to the 2028 and 2032 Olympics and Paralympics.