2021 Australian Swimming Championships Explained

2021 Australian Swimming Championships
Events:41 (men: 20; women: 20, mixed: 1)
Dates:14 - 18 April
Next:2022

The 2021 Australian Swimming Championships were held from 14 to 18 April 2021 at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre in Gold Coast, Queensland.[1]

Following Australia's performance at the 2016 Rio Olympics where 29 medals were won and finishing 10th on the medal tally, Swimming Australia announced in the February 2017 that the timing of the selection trials would be modified. Historically, the trials were held in April several months before the Olympics were held. This will be now changed to follow the American model where the trials are held six weeks before.[2] The 2021 Australian Swimming Trials were then held at the South Australia Aquatic and Leisure Centre from 12 to 17 June and will be selection trials for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.[3]

With the 2020 Australian Championships cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Swimming Australia released the 2021 swimming competition calendar in July 2020.[4] In September 2020, it was announced that Gold Coast would be hosting the event.[5] This meet followed the structure of the Olympic program with heats in the evenings and finals in the morning. This follows the prescient set at the 2008 Beijing Olympics where broadcaster NBC demanded this change so that the finals will be shown on primetime in the United States.[6]

The event was held in a 10-lane pool with 10 lanes being used. This meant that two non-Australian swimmers could progress through the final. With the exception of the distance events, the heats were swum in reverse order with the fastest seeded heat first. Three finals for each event were held – men's 18–19 years, men's 21–21 years, women's 17–18 years, women's 19–20 years and men's and women's open.[7]

There were no major withdrawals from the event with the exception of 2016 Olympian Georgia Bohl who pulled out due to a knee injury.[8] During the Day 2 heats session, Mitch Larkin was disqualified in the heats of the 100 metre backstroke for a false start.[9] Kyle Chalmers won the 50, 100 and 200 metre freestyle events, defending his titles from 2019.[10] By taking out the 50 metre butterfly event, Holly Barratt at the age of 33 became the oldest female Australian champion eclipsing the silver medallist from the 1912 Olympics Mina Wylie. Singer, songwriter Cody Simpson made his return to competitive swimming, reaching the final of the 50 metre butterfly event.[11] [12]

Schedule

M = Morning session, E = Evening session

Men[13]
Date → 14 Apr 15 Apr 16 Apr 17 Apr 18 Apr
Event ↓ E M E M E M E M
class=event 50 m freestyle class=heats H class=final F
class=event 100 m freestyle class=heats H class=final F
class=event 200 m freestyle class=heats H class=final F
class=event 400 m freestyle class=heats H class=final F
class=event 800 m freestyle class=timed-final TF class=timed-final TF
class=event 1500 m freestyle class=timed-final TF class=timed-final TF
class=event 50 m backstroke class=heats H class=final F
class=event 100 m backstroke class=heats H class=final F
class=event 200 m backstroke class=heats H class=final F
class=event 50 m breaststroke class=heats H class=final F
class=event 100 m breaststroke class=heats H class=final F
class=event 200 m breaststroke class=heats H class=final F
class=event 50 m butterfly class=heats H class=final F
class=event 100 m butterfly class=heats H class=final F
class=event 200 m butterfly class=heats H class=final F
class=event 200 m individual medley class=heats H class=final F
class=event 400 m individual medley class=heats H class=final F
class=event 4 × 100 m freestyle relay class=timed-final TF
class=event 4 × 200 m freestyle relay class=timed-final TF
class=event 4 × 100 m medley relay class=timed-final TF
Mixed
Date → 14 Apr 15 Apr 16 Apr 17 Apr 18 Apr
Event ↓ E M E M E M E M
class=event 4 × 100 m medley relay class=timed-final TF
Women
Date → 14 Apr 15 Apr 16 Apr 17 Apr 18 Apr
Event ↓ E M E M E M E M
class=event 50 m freestyle class=heats H class=final F
class=event 100 m freestyle class=heats H class=final F
class=event 200 m freestyle class=heats H class=final F
class=event 400 m freestyle class=heats H class=final F
class=event 800 m freestyle class=timed-final TF class=timed-final TF
class=event 1500 m freestyle class=timed-final TF class=timed-final TF
class=event 50 m backstroke class=heats H class=final F
class=event 100 m backstroke class=heats H class=final F
class=event 200 m backstroke class=heats H class=final F
class=event 50 m breaststroke class=heats H class=final F
class=event 100 m breaststroke class=heats H class=final F
class=event 200 m breaststroke class=heats H class=final F
class=event 50 m butterfly class=heats H class=final F
class=event 100 m butterfly class=heats H class=final F
class=event 200 m butterfly class=heats H class=final F
class=event 200 m individual medley class=heats H class=final F
class=event 400 m individual medley class=heats H class=final F
class=event 4 × 100 m freestyle relay class=timed-final TF
class=event 4 × 200 m freestyle relay class=timed-final TF
class=event 4 × 100 m medley relay class=timed-final TF

Medal winners

The medallist for the open events are below.

Men's events

50 m freestyleKyle Chalmers
Marion (SA)
22.30Maxim Lobanovszkij
22.43Jack Cartwright
St Peters Western (Qld)
22.47
100 m freestyleKyle Chalmers
Marion (SA)
48.04Jack Cartwright
St Peters Western (Qld)
48.81Louis Townsend
Rackley (Qld)
49.10
200 m freestyleKyle Chalmers
Marion (SA)
1:47.03Alexander Graham
Bond (Qld)
1:47.47Elijah Winnington
St Peters Western (Qld)
1:47.55
400 m freestyleElijah Winnington
St Peters Western (Qld)
3:45.69Thomas Neill
Rackley (Qld)
3:46.35Brendon Smith
Nunawading (Vic)
3:51.04
800 m freestyleThomas Neill
Rackley (Qld)
7:51.65Jack McLoughlin
Chandler (Qld)
7:59.33Nicholas Sloman
Noosa (Qld)
8:00.68
1500 m freestyleNicholas Sloman
Noosa (Qld)
15:02.19Thomas Neill
Rackley (Qld)
15:07.23Jack McLoughlin
Chandler (Qld)
15:20.95
50 m backstrokeMitch Larkin
St Peters Western (Qld)
24.75Andrew Rice
St Andrew's (Qld)
25.87Jye Cornwell
Yeronga Park (Qld)
26.00
100 m backstrokeTristan Hollard
Southport Olympic (Qld)
54.83Bradley Woodward
Mingara (NSW)
55.34Thomas Hauck
All Saints Gold Coast (Qld)
55.69
200 m backstrokeTristan Hollard
Southport Olympic (Qld)
1:56.40Ty Hartwell
Chandler (Qld)
1:58.73Bradley Woodward
Mingara (NSW)
1:58.76
50 m breaststrokeMatthew Wilson
SOPAC (NSW)
27.55Jake Packard
USC Spartans (Qld)
27.76James McKechnie
Starplex (SA)
28.00
100 m breaststrokeZac Stubblety-Cook
Chandler (Qld)
59.87Matthew Wilson
SOPAC (NSW)
1:00.27Jake Packard
USC Spartans (Qld)
1:00.87
200 m breaststrokeZac Stubblety-Cook
Chandler (Qld)
2:08.28Matthew Wilson
SOPAC (NSW)
2:09.44Daniel Cave
Melbourne Vicentre (Vic)
2:14.22
50 m butterflyShaun Champion
Abbotsleigh (NSW)
23.94William Yang
Loreto Normanhurst (NSW)
24.08Edward Marks
Carlile (NSW)
24.25
100 m butterflyMatthew Temple
Nunawading (Vic)
51.83Shaun Champion
Abbotsleigh (NSW)
53.01Bowen Gough
Nunawading (Vic)
53.01
200 m butterflyBowen Gough
Nunawading (Vic)
1:57.08Matthew Temple
Nunawading (Vic)
1:57.92David Morgan
TSS Aquatic (Qld)
1:58.87
200 m IMMitch Larkin
St Peters Western (Qld)
1:56.74 Louis Townsend
Rackley (Qld)
2:02.98Thomas Hauck
All Saints Gold Coast (Qld)
2:03.23
400 m IMBrendon Smith
Nunawading (Vic)
4:15.48Elliott Rogerson
Nunawading (Vic)
4:21.09Thomas Hauck
All Saints Gold Coast (Qld)
4:21.17
4 × 100 m freestyle relaySOPAC A (NSW)
Tomas Kapocius (51.00)
Joshua Hertz (49.87)
Joshua Simat (51.07)
Angus McDonald (50.38)
3:22.32Nunawading A (Vic)
Matthew Temple (49.18)
Bowen Gough (50.96)
Elliot Rogerson (50.73)
Brendon Smith (51.57)
3:22.44TSS Aquatic A (Qld)
Cameron McEvoy (50.52)
David Morgan (50.94)
Grayson Bell (51.73)
Zach Maher (50.04)
3:23.23
4 × 200 m freestyle relaySydney University A (NSW)
Daniel Perez (1:53.16)
James Koch (1:49.12)
Ryan Wilkes (1:51.44)
Jack Wilson (1:55.68)
7:29.40Nunawading A (Vic)
Matthew Temple (1:49.45)
Silas Harris (1:52.63)
Elliot Rogerson (1:56.51)
Brendon Smith (1:53.40)
7:31.99TSS Aquatic A (Qld)
Cameron McEvoy (1:54.26)
Kai Edwards (1:54.00)
David Morgan (1:52.12)
Zach Maher (1:51.82)
7:32.20
4 × 100 m medley relayTSS Aquatic A (Qld)
Connor O'Neill (58.78)
Grayson Bell (1:03.57)
David Morgan (52.91)
Zach Maher (49.55)
3:44.81Moreton Bay A (Qld)
Conor Daff (57.40)
Josh Hardess (1:03.10)
Peter Mills (54.23)
Alexander Grant (51.39)
3:46.12Nunawading A (Vic)
Will Sharp (58.03)
Calvin Reed (1:03.33)
Ryan Bicknell (57.63)
Nicholas Wu (50.94)
3:49.93

Women's events

50 m freestyleCate Campbell
Knox Pymble (NSW)
24.28Emma McKeon
Griffith University (Qld)
24.39Bronte Campbell
Knox Pymble (NSW)
24.75
100 m freestyleEmma McKeon
Griffith University (Qld)
52.49Cate Campbell
Knox Pymble (NSW)
52.85Madison Wilson
Marion (SA)
53.56
200 m freestyleAriarne Titmus
St Peters Western (Qld)
1:55.43Madison Wilson
Marion (SA)
1:56.26Brianna Throssell
UWA West Coast (WA)
1:57.29
400 m freestyleAriarne Titmus
St Peters Western (Qld)
4:01.34Leah Neale
Chandler (Qld)
4:08.26Kareena Lee
Noosa (Qld)
4:09.23
800 m freestyleAriarne Titmus
St Peters Western (Qld)
8:23.13Madeleine Gough
TSS Aquatic (Qld)
8:25.24Kiah Melverton
TSS Aquatic (Qld)
8:32.84
1500 m freestyleMadeleine Gough
TSS Aquatic (Qld)
16:00.18Kareena Lee
Noosa (Qld)
16:08.28Kiah Melverton
TSS Aquatic (Qld)
16:12.43
50 m backstrokeKaylee McKeown
USC Spartans (Qld)
27.45 MREmily Seebohm
Griffith University (Qld)
27.94Madison Wilson
Marion (SA)
28.13
100 m backstrokeKaylee McKeown
USC Spartans (Qld)
58.60Emily Seebohm
Griffith University (Qld)
59.22Jessica Unicomb
Griffith University (Qld)
1:01.32
200 m backstrokeEmily Seebohm
Griffith University (Qld)
2:07.46Jessica Unicomb
Griffith University (Qld)
2:13.27Tahlia Thornton
Rackley (Qld)
2:16.97
50 m breaststrokeChelsea Hodges
Southport Olympic (Qld)
30.20 ACR, MRTessa Wallace
USC Spartans (Qld)
31.22Abbey Harkin
St Peters Western (Qld)
31.43
100 m breaststrokeChelsea Hodges
Southport Olympic (Qld)
1:07.14Abbey Harkin
St Peters Western (Qld)
1:07.27Zoe Deacon
Nunawading (Vic)
2:27.20
200 m breaststrokeAbbey Harkin
St Peters Western (Qld)
2:25.26Jenna Strauch
Bond (Qld)
2:25.54Jessica Hansen
Cruiz (ACT)
1:07.41
50 m butterflyHolly Barratt
Rockingham (WA)
25.75Madison Wilson
Marion (SA)
26.92Sasha Touretski
27.16
100 m butterflyEmma McKeon
Griffith University (Qld)
56.44 MRBrianna Throssell
UWA West Coast (WA)
57.76Alexandria Perkins
USC Spartans (Qld)
59.01
200 m butterflyBrianna Throssell
UWA West Coast (WA)
2:07.20Elizabeth Dekkers
Newmarket Racers (Qld)
2:07.82Meg Bailey
Hunter (NSW)
2:09.72
200 m IMKaylee McKeown
USC Spartans (Qld)
2:09.78Tessa Wallace
USC Spartans (Qld)
2:13.14Meg Bailey
Hunter (NSW)
2:13.29
400 m IMJenna Forrester
St Peters Western (Qld)
4:39.46Meg Bailey
Hunter (NSW)
4:39.59Blair Evans
UWA West Coast (WA)
4:48.73
4 × 100 m freestyle relayNunawading A (Vic)
Kayla Costa (56.67)
Isabel Ekelmans (56.34)
Gabriella Peiniger (56.49)
Julia Hawkins (55.67)
3:45.17Nudgee College A (Qld)
Brittany Courtney (57.64)
Mikayla Messer (56.69)
Nicole Sanders (57.98)
Charlotte Mitchell (58.02)
3:50.33TSS Aquatic A (Qld)
Kiah Melverton (56.49)
Alice Stuart (1:00.06)
Tanya Stovgaard (57.16)
Laura Taylor (57.26)
3:50.97
4 × 200 m freestyle relayTSS Aquatic A (Qld)
Kiah Melverton (1:59.85)
Laura Taylor (2:04.12)
Moesha Johnson (2:01.59)
Madeleine Gough (2:00.83)
8:06.39Nunawading A (Vic)
Isabel Ekelmans (2:04.18)
Kayla Costa (2:02.19)
Gabriella Peiniger (2:02.88)
Chanelle Underwood (2:05.33)
8:14.58Nudgee College A (Qld)
Mikayla Messer (1:59.82)
Jade Starr (2:05.81)
Charlotte Mitchell (2:04.28)
Jessica Mouatt (2:08.26)
8:18.17
4 × 100 m medley relayMarion A (SA)
Madison Wilson (1:00.73)
Leiston Pickett (1:08.83)
Ellysia Oldsen (1:01.31)
Bethan Mounfield (54.85)
4:05.72Nunawading A (Vic)
Olivia Lefoe (1:04.71)
Mikayla Smith (1:08.94)
Gabriella Peiniger (1:02.17)
Isabel Ekelmans (56.86)
4:12.68TSS Aquatic A (Qld)
Tanya Stovgaard (1:04.27)
Kiah Melverton (1:11.81)
Alice Stuart (1:01.17)
Laura Taylor (57.08)
4:14.33

Mixed events

4 × 100 m medley relayNunawading A (Vic)
Olivia Lefoe (1:04.22)
Zoe Deacon (1:08.91)
Bowen Gough (52.71)
Nicholas Wu (51.18)
3:57.02Nunawading B (Vic)
Will Sharp (57.06)
Calvin Reed (1:03.29)
Gabriella Peiniger (1:01.68)
Julia Hawkins (55.78)
3:57.81TSS Aquatic A (Qld)
Cameron McEvoy (58.27)
Grayson Bell (1:03.70)
Alice Stuart (1:01.68)
Laura Taylor (57.47)
4:00.14

Legend:

Records broken

During the 2021 Australian Swimming Championships the following records were set.

All Comers and Championship records

Club points scores

The final club point scores are below. Note: Only the top ten clubs are listed.[16]

Overall club point score
Rank Club State Points
1 Nunawading Vic 1,890.5
2 St Peters Western Qld 1,432
3 Rackley Qld 1,048.50
4 TSS Aquatic Qld 860
5 Griffith University Qld 815.5
6 St Andrew's Qld 677
7 USC Spartans Qld 598
8 Chandler Qld 547
9 UWA West Coast WA 526.5
10 Marion SA 492.5

Broadcast

Following the delay of the Olympic trials by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Seven Network agreed to terminate their broadcast partnership with Swimming Australia in October 2020. The deal was announced in September 2015 and had an option to extend to 2025.[17] [18] In February 2021, it was announced the Amazon Prime Video had secured an exclusive, two-year live broadcast streaming deal with Swimming Australia.[19] [20] Both the evening heat sessions and morning final sessions were streamed live on Prime Video and on Swimming Australia's digital platform SwimTV.[1] The commentary team consisted of Jon Harker and Giaan Rooney with Rooney conducting the poolside interviews.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Australia's best swimmers ready to fire on the Gold Coast. Swimming Australia. 12 April 2021. 2 May 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210502042924/https://www.swimming.org.au/news-articles/australias-best-swimmers-ready-fire-gold-coast. 2 May 2021.
  2. Web site: Loretta. Race. Swimming Australia shake-up: Olympic trials moves to American model. SwimSwam. 1 February 2017. 28 April 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180226180420/https://swimswam.com/swimming-australia-shake-up-olympic-trials-moves-to-american-model/. 26 February 2018.
  3. News: Will. Swanton. Sunk so low: where did Australian swimming go?. The Australian. 24 April 2021. 2 May 2021.
  4. Web site: Torrey. Hart. Swimming Australia books trials for June 12–17 in Adelaide. SwimSwam. 2 July 2020. 2 May 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201125033055/https://swimswam.com/swimming-australia-books-2021-olympic-trials-for-june-12-17-in-adelaide/. 25 November 2020.
  5. Web site: Retta. Race. 2021 Aussie Nationals set for Gold Coast with Tokyo timing. SwimSwam. 11 September 2020. 2 May 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200919123056/https://swimswam.com/2021-aussie-nationals-set-for-gold-coast-with-tokyo-timing/. 19 September 2020.
  6. News: Kieran. Pender. Australian swimming championships to test body clocks for Tokyo. The Guardian. 13 April 2021. 25 April 2021.
  7. Web site: 2021 Australian Swimming Championships Information Book. Swimming Australia. April 2021. 3. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210502074013/https://www.swimming.org.au/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2021%20Australian%20Champs%20-%20Information%20Book_0_1_1.pdf. 2 May 2021.
  8. Web site: Ben. Dornan. Olympian Georgia Bohl scratches from Australian Nationals due to knee injury. SwimSwam. 15 April 2021. 2 May 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210420141903/https://swimswam.com/olympian-georgia-bohl-scratches-from-australian-nationals-due-to-knee-injury/. 20 April 2021.
  9. Web site: Ian. Hansen. Australian Championships: Cate Campbell's sizzling 52.43 in the 100m freestyle, the fastest time of 2021 as Aussie girls tear up the pool. Swimming World. 15 April 2021. 2 May 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210415120440/https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/australian-championships-cate-campbells-sizzling-52-43-in-the-100m-freestyle-the-fastest-time-of-2021-as-aussie-girls-tear-up-the-pool/. 15 April 2021.
  10. Web site: Ian. Hansen. Australian Championships: Cate Campbell ignites her starter motor as she fine tunes for Toyko. Swimming World. 18 April 2021. 2 May 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210425102207/https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/australian-championships-cate-campbell-ignites-her-starter-motor-as-she-fine-tunes-for-toyko/. 25 April 2021.
  11. News: Phil. Lutton. Cody Simpson, followed by millions, has been starstruck at the Australian swimming championships. The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 April 2021. 25 April 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210429024634/https://www.smh.com.au/sport/swimming/cody-simpson-followed-by-millions-has-been-starstruck-at-the-australia-swimming-championships-20210418-p57k66.html. 29 April 2021.
  12. Web site: Ben. Dornan. Cody Simpson makes return to top racing in Australian with a 24.68 50 butterfly. SwimSwam. 20 April 2021. 2 May 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210420123308/https://swimswam.com/cody-simpson-makes-return-to-top-racing-in-australia-with-a-24-68-50-butterfly/. 20 April 2021.
  13. Web site: 2021 Australian Swimming Championships Event Program. Swimming Australia. October 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210318084104/https://www.swimming.org.au/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2021%20Australian%20Swimming%20Championships%20-%20Program%20of%20Events.pdf%20(October%202020)_0.pdf. 18 March 2021.
  14. Web site: Ian. Hansen. Australian Championships, Day 2 Finals: Emma McKeon's safety first call ends clan Campbell's 100m freestyle dominance. Swimming World. 16 April 2021. 2 May 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210416074042/https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/australian-championships-day-2-finals-emma-mckeons-safety-first-call-ends-clan-campbells-100m-freestyle-dominance/. 16 April 2021.
  15. Web site: John. Lohn. Aussies order a Mc-Double of top swims behind Emma McKeon & Kaylee McKeown. Swimming World. 16 April 2021. 2 May 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210417020208/https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/aussies-order-a-mc-double-of-top-swims-behind-emma-mckeon-kaylee-mckeown/. 17 April 2021.
  16. Web site: 2021 Australian Swimming Championships Final Point Score. Swimming Australia. April 2021. 12 June 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210612122716/https://www.swimming.org.au/sites/default/files/assets/documents/final%20point%20score%20-%20Opens.pdf. 12 June 2021.
  17. Web site: David. Knox. Seven nabs broadcast rights to Swimming Australia. TV Tonight. 23 September 2015. 2 May 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170719070508/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2015/09/seven-nabs-broadcast-rights-to-swimming-australia.html. 19 July 2017.
  18. Web site: David. Knox. Seven ends deal with Swimming Australia. TV Tonight. 1 October 2020. 2 May 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201029084538/https://tvtonight.com.au/2020/10/seven-ends-deal-with-swimming-australia.html. 29 October 2020.
  19. Web site: Amazon Prime Video and Swimming Australia Join Forces. Swimming Australia. 3 February 2021. 2 May 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210324202341/https://www.swimming.org.au/news-articles/amazon-prime-video-and-swimming-australia-join-forces. 24 March 2021.
  20. News: Zoe. Samios. Amazon dives into sports streaming battle with first Australian rights. The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 February 2021. 2 May 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419201632/https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/amazon-dives-into-sports-streaming-battle-with-first-australian-rights-20210203-p56z45.html. 19 April 2021.