It’s time for a new generation of kings and queens of the pool.
And one of Australia’s greatest-ever swimmers, Ariarne Titmus, says they’re about to arrive.
The Aussie contingent will head to Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games without unstoppable backstroke force Kaylee McKeown, but Titmus is confident there are plenty of other medal hopes ready to step up.
Five-time Olympic gold medallist McKeown announced her withdrawal from the upcoming Games just weeks out after being diagnosed with glandular fever.
McKeown, who holds 10 individual backstroke titles across Olympics and World Championships, was shaping as one of Australia’s top medal prospects, but it could now open the door for a suite of other chances.
“We’re so spoilt in Australia. We’ve got such depth across our men’s and women’s team at the moment,” Titmus, who will be a part of the Channel Seven broadcast team, told the West Australian.
“We still have a bunch of gold medal hopes, especially in our freestyle events on the women’s side of things. We’re going to be so dominant from the 50 freestyle all the way up to the 1500, which is really exciting.
“We should be extremely competitive in all of our relays, and certainly go in as the gold medal favourites for most of them. Then on our men’s side, same thing.”
One name Titmus expects Australians to become familiar with is Sam Short — a 22 year old Queenslander who is currently in terrific form and chasing history in Glasgow.
During last month’s trials, he became the first man since Grant Hackett in 2005 to win the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle events.
“He’s been on the national team for four years now, but he’s probably flown under the radar,” Titmus said.
“He had an unbelievable trials. He won the the 200 freestyle all the way through to the 1500 freestyle, which is incredibly tough to do, and was within a tenth of a second of Ian Thorpe’s Australian 400 freestyle record, which hasn’t been touched for 25 years.
“If he can get near that record and has the potential to win the 400, 800, and 1500 freestyle events at these games, I think that would be an unreal feat in Australian sport history.”
Titmus also tipped stalwart Kyle Chalmers to add more gold to his collection at his third Commonwealth Games in the 100m freestyle.
Reigning Olympic champion Cam McEvoy — who captured Australia’s imagination in Paris two years ago with his training methods grounded in his passion for science — is the favourite in the 50-metre dash.
In the women’s events, Lani Pallister also shapes up to be a red-hot contender with Canadian superstar and 400m world record holder Summer McIntosh opting out of the Games.
Pallister — who is the daughter of Commonwealth Games medallist Janelle Elford —will challenge for the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle.
However, in the 200m freestyle, she will face stiff competition from Mollie O’Callaghan who defied a persistent back injury to qualify for the Games.
The former 200m world record-holder won gold in the event at the 2024 Paris Olympics and 2025 World Championships in Singapore.
And as for backstroke, Titmus tipped West Australian Iona Anderson to be more than capable of filling McKeown’s shoes.
“She challenged Kaylee through the heats of the backstroke events at trials and put together some wonderful swims in the finals. She will now go in as a gold medal hope in those backstroke events,” she said.
About 60 swimmers across both swimming and para swimming events will head to Glasgow, with rookies making up 25 per cent of the squad.
With the 2028 LA Olympics among other key swimming tournaments coming up, Glasgow can be a crucial learning experience for the young swimmers.
Titmus says there are some exciting prospects like backstroker Henry Allan and breaststroker Sienna Toohey — both 17, among that group to keep an eye on.
“I do think that Swimming Australia has been wrapping (Allen) up in bubble wrap because he certainly is once-in-a-generation prodigy that’s come through,” she said.
“He’s certainly going to be one to watch in years to come. He’s still got lots of development and lots of growing to do and lots to learn as an athlete.
“(Toohey) made her Dolphins debut last year, so she’s experienced 12 months on the national team. She swam an incredibly fast time five weeks ago at trials.
“We haven’t seen that in a few years in this country, and although she’s 17, I think that she has the chance to be competitive and have medal hopes at these games in the 100 breaststroke.”
Titmus joins the Seven commentary panel for the first time post her shock retirement late last year. But she is no rookie to the world of commentary after working at the 2022 World Short Course Championships.
She isn’t taking her new role lightly and hopes to give Australia’s swimmers the spotlight they deserve.
“Our Australian swim team are the best Australian Olympic and Commonwealth sport we’ve had,” Titmus said.
“I want to make sure that we do our athletes justice and deliver the best broadcast possible for them.
“If I can attach my voice and do the best job I can in the commentary and interviewing our athletes, hopefully that draws more eyes to swimming and we can create as much hype as possible.”
The swimming program runs across the first six days of the Games at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre.
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