Australian swimming team for World Championships named after national trials

Cam McEvoy’s left-field plan paid off on the final night of the national trials, but Cody Simpson had a tougher night in the pool. See the full world championships team.

Cameron McEvoy starts during the final of the 50m freestyle. Picture: Michael Klein

Cam McEvoy’s radical plan to change Australian swimming forever isn’t looking so crazy after all.

Experimenting with a left-field idea where he hopes to swim faster by spending less time training in the water, McEvoy gave a head-spinning demonstration of his wild theory to book his place in the Dolphins team for next month’s world championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

The evergreen sprinter outshone his younger rivals to win the men’s 50m freestyle, posting a sizzling 21.27 seconds in the heat then 21.41 in the final to jump to No.1 in the world rankings.

“Not only is it awesome to be back swimming fast and being in contention for your podium spots, doing personal best times, but it’s really potentially opened the door for a much longer career,” he said.

“I’m 29 now, so originally I thought I was getting to the end of my career. But from a year-to-year perspective, I could be at the halfway point.”

Shayna Jack also showed a clean pair of heels, holding off the Olympic champion Emma McKeon to win the women’s 50m free in a slick 24.22.

Jack moved to No.2 in the world rankings while securing her place in the 38-member team for Japan, which includes eight open water competitors.

“This week has been a bit of a rollercoaster for emotions,” Jack said.

“I was feeling a lot of pressure going into this, actually. So I just wanted to execute the best way I could and have fun with it. That’s exactly what I did.”

Cameron McEvoy blitzed the men’s 50m freestyle. Picture: William West / AFP

The team includes Tokyo Olympic champions McKeon, Kaylee McKeown, Ariarne Titmus and Zac-Stubblety-Cook as well as defending world champions Elijah Winnington and Mollie O’Callaghan plus Commonwealth Games gold medallist Kyle Chalmers, Kai Taylor, the teenage son of former star Hayley Lewis, made the team for the first time after his win in the 200m freestyle.

Former pop star Cody Simpson did not make the team after finishing fifth in the men’s 100m butterfly final, needing to be in the top two.

“I’m excited about this team,” Australian head coach Rohan Taylor said.

“We’ve got a great mix of experienced campaigners and some young blood coming through.

“These world championships are such an important stepping stone in what is a big 12 months before the Paris Olympics.

“We have an amazing team, they’re hard working, authentic and it’s always about improvement. Our goal is always to have as many high-ranked athletes going into meets and when we do that, we get conversions.”

Australian team for next month’s world championships in Fukuoka:

MEN

Jack Cartwright

Kyle Chalmers

Shaun Champion

Isaac Cooper

Alex Graham

Cam McEvoy

Tommy Neill

Sam Short

Brendon Smith

Flynn Southam

Zac Stubblety-Cook

Kai Taylor

Matt Temple

Sam Williamson

Elijah Winnington

Brad Woodward

Men (open water)

Kyle Lee

Nick Sloman

Jack Wilson

WOMEN

Abbey Connor

Lizzie Dekkers

Jenna Forrester

Abbey Harkin

Meg Harris

Shayna Jack

Moesha Johnson

Emma McKeon

Kaylee McKeown

Kiah Melverton

Mollie O’Callaghan

Lani Pallister

Brianna Throssell

Ariarne Titmus

Madi Wilson

Women (open water)

Bailey Armstrong

Bianca Crisp

Maddy Gough

Chelsea Gubecka

Moesha Johnson

Originally published as Australian swimming team for World Championships named after national trials