The Tokyo 2021 class — Kaylee McKeown, Ariarne Titmus, Mollie O’Callaghan, and Zac Stubblety-Cook — have cemented their status as some of Australia’s greatest swimmers.
Now heading into Paris, they and their peers are older, more experienced, and starting to reflect on what they want from the sport. While Titmus is opting for a break, others are pressing on, trying to redefine their goals.
McKeown continues despite challenges
Kaylee McKeown, despite not being at her peak after a difficult period post-Paris, defeated Mollie O’Callaghan in a highlight race at the Australian Swimming Trials.
Once known for their youth and speed in Tokyo, the swimmers have matured. Although still in their early to mid-20s, they now wrestle with the doubts and questions that come with experience.
Zac Stubblety-Cook, who claimed gold in the 200m breaststroke in Tokyo and later earned a world title and world record, followed it up with silver in Paris.
“The last eight years I’ve been going hard, just race after race,” he said. “Last year, I had time to reflect and really ask myself if I wanted to keep pushing for another Olympic cycle.”
His coach Mel Marshall helped him put things into perspective: “At some point, it flips. You go from doing it without knowing how, to realizing the complexity and thinking, ‘How do I actually do this?’”
After winning the 200m breaststroke at the national trials in Adelaide, Stubblety-Cook has qualified for the World Championships in Singapore.
“Mel and I believe my best is still ahead. The goal is to keep improving each year.”
Though unsure how fast the races will be, he’s eager to compete. “People have been laying low, but I think it’ll come down to a good race.”
Like many Olympic veterans, Stubblety-Cook admits the post-Games comedown hit hard. “The ‘Olympic Blues’ is real, especially your first time. People underestimate it.”
Paralympian Rohan Crothers, who has been competing at the top level for over ten years, echoed this sentiment.
“You put everything into one moment that’s over in a minute. Everyone’s excited to see you when you return, but after a couple of weeks, life moves on. That’s tough,” Crothers shared. “But sport is more than competition — it’s about the community.”
O’Callaghan on the isolated world of elite swimming
Mollie O’Callaghan won the 200m freestyle at the Australian Trials but was disappointed not to match her personal best.
At just 21, she already holds five Olympic gold medals, but her intense focus on training has made for a narrow existence. This year, she started reflecting more deeply — a challenging yet rewarding process.
She secured another spot for the World Championships in Singapore after winning the 100m freestyle final, having previously won the 200m event earlier in the week. O’Callaghan was also world champion in the 100m freestyle in 2022 and 2023.
Her time of 52.87 seconds was her fastest this season, but she said performance metrics weren’t her main concern. “Dean (Boxall, her coach) and I just want to enjoy racing.”
After dislocating her kneecap in January due to her hyper-mobility, she was on a modified training program for a while.
“Injuries and illness are unpredictable. You can try to prevent them, but sometimes they just happen,” she said.
She added that despite tears and struggles, she wouldn’t change a thing. “These moments make success even more meaningful. You have to embrace the darkness to discover your strength. That’s what sport is — pushing yourself to your mental limits.”
Her goal this year was to enjoy the experience and take in the parts of the sport often missed during an Olympic cycle.
Pallister breaks Titmus’ 800m record
Lani Pallister broke Ariarne Titmus’ Australian 800m freestyle record in Adelaide, sharing a poolside hug with swimming legend Dawn Fraser afterward.
Titmus has recently emphasized finding enjoyment in her career. “It’s about friendships, travel, chasing my dreams — but most of all, giving everything I have in the pool and being proud of that.”
Short’s thrill is in the fight
Sam Short, a 21-year-old Olympic veteran and former 400m freestyle World Champion, added the 1,500m title to his 400m and 800m wins at the trials.
For him, the fun lies in the intensity of racing and the razor-thin margins of success. “It’s a brutal sport — one mistake, and it shows,” he said. “That’s why I love it. Every detail matters.”
Benjamin Goedemans, finishing just half a second behind Short, will make his debut on the national team at the Singapore World Championships.
Other results included Ella Ramsay securing her second win by taking the 200m breaststroke, adding to her 200m individual medley victory and a second-place finish in the 100m breaststroke.
Para swimmers prepare for Singapore
Swimming Australia has announced a 25-member team for the World Para Swimming Championships in September, also in Singapore. Headlining the group are Brendan Hall, Alexa Leary, Benjamin Hance, Tim Hodge, and Rohan Crothers.
Crothers remains driven by both personal ambition and the chance to inspire others.
“My motivation is that two-minute window after a race, where I get to inspire kids with disabilities to get involved in sport and their communities,” he said.
Crothers was once unsure about his future until he watched a Paralympic race in Beijing. “That changed everything. It opened doors I never imagined.”
“Even though it’s a small moment for me as an athlete, I deeply value the impact I can have on others in Australia and around the world.”
