Time for Australian swimmers to put London demons to rest at Rio Olympics swimming trials

OUR nation’s best swimmers will battle it out for a place on the plane to Rio at the Olympic swimming team trials in Adelaide. Here are the ones to watch.

SA Weekend-EMBARGO APPLIES CONTACT PICTURE DESK FOR DETAILS. Swimmer Kyle Chalmers at The Aquatic Centre at Marion. Picture by Matt Turner.

ALL eyes will be on Adelaide this week as our Olympic swimming prospects battle it out for a place on the plane to Rio.

From rising star Kyle Chalmers to 35-year-old veteran Grant Hackett, competition for places is going to be fierce when Australia’s best take to the pool.

The trials begin on Thursday, April 7 and run through to Thursday, April 14 with the team for Rio to be named that night. These are the swimmers to look out for.

Mitch Larkin is within reach of a world record.

1. Mitch Larkin is fast closing in on becoming Australia’s first individual world record holder since the supersuit farce of 2009. Dual world champ Larkin is well within striking distance of a world mark in the 100m event and his 200m claims are also quickly rising. His best time of 52.11sec is just 0.17sec short of US great Aaron Peirsol’s 2009 record of 51.94sec.

2. Emily Seebohm is building an impressive resume to suggest 2016 will be the year she rights the wrongs of the last Olympics. Seebohm dominated everything last year and the dual backstroke world champion looks razor sharp again in 2016. Can she beat her boyfriend Mitch Larkin in the race to break a world record first?

Can Magnussen repeat his form from Adelaide four years ago? Pic Brett Costello

3. He was barely sighted in 2015, but all eyes will be fixed on the giant frame of James Magnussen. Coming off shoulder surgery Magnussen faces the very real threat of not qualifying for the 100m freestyle with Cameron McEvoy and Adelaide teen Kyle Chalmers serious threats. But Adelaide was the scene of Magnussen’s unbelievable 47.10s swim last Olympic trials so don’t discount him.

“He’s doing well. From his trajectory from surgery to where he is now, he must be very happy with his progression from successful rehab,” Australia’s head coach Jacco Verhaeren said of Magnussen.

4. He retired in 2008 as one of our greatest Olympians, now Grant Hackett is back at 35 and trying to do what Ian Thorpe failed to do four years ago and make the Australian Olympic team. Hackett shocked all to make last year’s world titles team off six months training and should be in the mix again in the 200m freestyle for a relay berth.

“I need everything to go right given I’ve had six years out of sport and how good these guys are now and what I’m up against,” Hackett said of the 400m.

“I am in a position with nothing to prove and nothing to lose so just see how I go.”

Bronte and Cate Campbell will be in action in Adelaide this week.

5. Oh for the day when the Campbell sisters are both fully fit and firing. Bronte Campbell has endured a wretched injury run since winning her 50m and 100m freestyle world titles last year, while older sister Cate has finally come good after her own shoulder and neck problems in 2015. Look for Cate to give the clock a serious scare.

“It has definitely not been the best preparation of my life but I will draw on past experience and I think I’ve got enough work done to put together a good race and that is what I need to do,” Bronte Campbell said.

Kyle Chalmers has the talent to challenge for an individual 100m berth. Picture by Matt Turner.

EMERGING TALENTS

1. Kyle Chalmers (SA) — Don’t be surprised if he beats James Magnussen over 100m freestyle. Seriously. This 17-year-old kid is a gun. Chalmers broke the 50m national record and set a 200m personal best in world class times at the Australian Age Championships in Adelaide last week.

“His times are absolutely impressive,” Verhaeren said of Chalmers. “Does he have the talent for it (Olympic selection)? Of course. Is it possible right now? We will see this week.”

2. Brianna Throssell (WA) — Shock 4th at last year’s world titles in 200m butterfly, an under-rated Olympic contender.

3. Georgia Bohl (Qld) — Daughter of Michael Bohl, who coached Stephanie Rice to triple Olympic gold, and red-hot tip to win 100m breaststroke to make her first team.

4. Madison Wilson (Qld) — Silver medal behind Emily Seebohm in 100m backstroke last year. Could pull off a shock defeat.

5. Daniel Smith (Qld) — Former drug addict chasing Olympic glory. If he lives up to potential he could be a shock 200m freestyle winner.

Originally published as Time for Australian swimmers to put London demons to rest at Rio Olympics swimming trials