Australia v The World: Dolphins to take on global stars in prime-time swimming spectacle

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Australia’s top Olympic swimmers are gearing up for a blockbuster duel on home soil against some of the world’s best this year in a unique teams event on prime-time television.

Swimming Australia is set to unveil a new Australia v The World concept, to be staged on December 12 at Brisbane’s Valley Pool, four days after the third Ashes Test finishes at the Gabba.

Olympic champions Mollie O’Callaghan, Cameron McEvoy and Kaylee McKeown headline the local contingent, which will take on a star-studded international team featuring world record holders Lukas Martens (400m freestyle) and Thomas Ceccon (100m backstroke), as well as 100m freestyle world champion Marrit Steenbergen and British stars Tom Dean and Duncan Scott.

Invitations went out globally, though some nations, including the United States, were unable to send athletes due to a schedule clash. More athletes are expected to be added in coming weeks.

The one-night event, to be broadcast on Channel Nine, is part of Swimming Australia’s push to stage more international competitions before the 2032 Olympics.

Australia hosted the Duel in the Pool against the USA in 2022. Before that, the Commonwealth Games were held on the Gold Coast in 2018.

Cam McEvoy after his 50m freestyle gold medal at the world championships.

“That was something that we really wanted to try to do again,” Dolphins head coach Rohan Taylor said. “I think it started with a conversation to see if we could do something with Europe.

“We just wanted to try to get the best athletes we could get into Australia to race our guys and in a unique competition that wasn’t your traditional thing. It’s more about showcasing racing.

“It’s an opportunity just to show our sport in a different light and have some of the best athletes in the world go head to head.

“If we could put more competitions on in Australia with more world-class athletes, it’s going to be better for our athletes. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Australia v The World swimmers

Australia: Henry Allen, Ben Armbruster, Josh Edwards-Smith, Hannah Fredericks, Meg Harris, Sienna Harben, Jamie Jack, Shayna Jack, Tara Kinder, Cameron McEvoy, Kaylee McKeown, Mollie O’Callaghan, Lani Pallister, Alex Perkins, Jamie Perkins, Will Petric, Lilly Price, Ella Ramsay, David Schlicht, Sam Short, Flynn Southam, Matt Temple, Sienna Toohey, Nash Wilkes, Elijah Winnington, Olivia Wunsch.

The World: Thomas Ceccon (ITA), Lewis Clareburt (NZ), Casper Corbeau (NED), Angharad Evans (GB), Florine Gaspard (BEL), Isabel Gose (GER), Oliver Klemet (GER), Angelina Kohler (GER), Lukas Martens (GER), Rebecca Meder (RSA), Alberto Razzeti (ITA), Duncan Scott (GBR), Marrit Steenbergen (NED), Roos Vanotterdijk (NED), Milou Van Wijk (NED), Abbie Wood (GBR).

The meet will feature a “skins” format: an elimination-style sprint event typically run over 50 metres in which the slowest swimmers drop out after each round with minimal recovery time. Taylor said the program would also include mixed relays, sprints and “mystery medley” races.

The concept echoes the popular Qantas Skins events of the late 1990s and early 2000s, when the likes of Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett competed in high-intensity, short-rest formats.

McEvoy, the reigning Olympic and world 50m freestyle champion, will race over 25 metres after clocking an unofficial record of 9.36 seconds at last month’s national shortcourse meet.

Meanwhile, 2023 world champion Sam Short will renew his rivalry with Martens in the 400 metres freestyle after the German edged him out by just 0.02 seconds at this year’s world titles in Singapore.

Taylor said fellow coaches Dean Boxall, Damien Jones, Mel Marshall and Craig Jackson will help lead the Australian team.