Aussie gold medal hopefuls braced for world records to tumble at US Olympic swimming trials

AUSTRALIA’S Olympic gold medal contenders have been warned to expect world records to fall as the US Olympic trials put heat on our pace-setting Dolphins.

Michael Phelps will contest four events at the US Olympic trials.

AUSTRALIA’S leading Olympic gold medal contenders have been warned to expect world records to fall as the US Olympic trials put heat on our pace-setting Dolphins just 38 days out from the Rio Games.

Australia currently has eight swimmers ranked No.1 in the world based on 2016 times but leading coach Michael Bohl expects that figure to drop as the Americans reveal their best at their Olympic trials in Omaha.

Already dual world champion Mitch Larkin has lost his 100m backstroke top billing in recent weeks and Bohl said to not just expect, but embrace more challenges to Aussie dominance.

Bohl has used triple Olympic champ Stephanie Rice as an example of how he wants his swimmers to treat the next week as the US lift the standard while the Australian swimmers plunder through a tough grand prix meet and heavy training at Brisbane.

Michael Phelps will contest four events at the US Olympic trials.

“You can’t panic and worry about what other people are doing, but it’s just nice to know where we are at,” Bohl said.

“I’ve spoken to our guys about it, you have to expect there will be fast times.

“There will be probably one, two or three worlds records and maybe in an event you’re swimming in and you can’t be distracted.

“Think back to Steph in 2008, she got two world records at trials and one of those she lost to the US but I prepared her for that.

“I think losing one (world record) took the pressure off a little bit. I think Mitch is very aware there are people out there swimming fast.

“There could be two or three quicker than him and he just can’t worry about that.”

Head coach Jacco Verhaeren said Australians should take note of what the US produce this week, but it means nothing once Rio rolls around.

Backstroker Mitch Larkin has already lost his top billing. Picture: Sarah Reed

“You never really know until you’re at the Olympics, it means something but not everything,” he said.

“What we’ve seen from our trials is we have a strong and competitive team, but that’s it. World rankings at this point in time don’t mean too much.”

Bohl is busy managing his squad through a chilly Queensland winter, with several coming down with viral symptoms in the past week after record temperature lows.

The swim team will gather in Brisbane on Thursday where new head coach Jacco Verhaeren will conduct a blazer presentation ceremony in a private function with Olympic great Dawn Fraser on Thursday night.

Verhaeren said it would be a good opportunity for the swim team to wear the official Olympic opening ceremony uniform as a team given all athletes have been banned from marching into the stadium on August 5.

Originally published as Aussie gold medal hopefuls braced for world records to tumble at US Olympic swimming trials