After a highly successful qualifying event, both Brendon Smith and Matt Temple will make their Olympic Games debut.
"Tokyo time baby. Thankyou to everyone for the amount of support I have received the passed few weeks. I couldn’t be more grateful! A dream come true!" Temple took to his social media account.
Emily Seebohm and Cate Campbell join legend Leisel Jones as the only Australian swimmers to ever make four Olympic Games, with the team also including three athletes named to their third Olympics, nine to their second and 21 debutants.
The team selection follows a blistering week of racing, which saw a World Record in the 100m backstroke from Kaylee McKeown, Commonwealth Records by McKeown (200m Backstroke), Ariarne Titmus (200m and 400m Freestytle) and Zac Stubblety-Cook (200m Breaststroke) and a host of Australian Records.
Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission Ian Chesterman said tonight’s announcement was a great milestone for all 35 athletes.
“Tonight’s selection caps a special week in the pool, with exceptional achievements from our athletes,” Mr Chesterman said. “Swimming has such an incredible Olympic history for our country and this Team is ready to build on that legacy with their own inspiring performances in Tokyo.
“Congratulations to all of the athletes, the coaches, support staff, friends and family who have been there every step of the way to help them realise their Olympic dream.”
“I want to highlight Cate Campbell and Emily Seebohm in particular – achieving a feat of four Olympic Games, only reached by one Australian swimmer in history, is testament to their persistence, character and talent and I am thrilled to have such fantastic ambassadors on the Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo.
Matt Wilson, former World record-holder, was nominated to the Team under Swimming Australia’s selection policy under extenuating circumstances, with a family bereavement disrupting Wilson’s trial performance and preparation.
“We have a big five weeks ahead of us. Now it’s about preparing our athletes for what they’ll experience and get them ready to perform on the biggest stage in the world in Tokyo.”
Tonight’s selection brings the total number of selected athletes to 267 of an expected 450-480 Australian Olympic Team size for Tokyo.
The Swimming will take place from 24 July to 1 August at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.
