Magnussen heads youthful London swimming squad

A fresh-faced Dolphins squad spearheaded by sprint star James Magnussen will attempt to defy the odds and retain Australia’s position in the world’s top two swimming nations at the London Olympics.

The Australian Olympic Committee on Thursday night announced a 44-strong squad to take on the challenge after the completion of the eight-day national titles in Adelaide, which head coach Leigh Nugent described as one of the best trials meets he’d seen.

The squad features some experienced old hands in Brenton Rickard, Leisel Jones, Eamon Sullivan and Libby Trickett but notably a strong presence of youth, including 13 teenagers, and around half the squad will compete at its first Games.

And it’s likely many will have to quickly acclimatise to the highest level if the Dolphins are to prevent the nation’s lowest Olympic gold medal haul in the sport since the 1996 Atlanta Games (two gold).

Australia has been second ranked behind the United States at the last three Games on the medal tally, winning six gold medals in Beijing 2008, seven in Athens 2004 and five in Sydney 2000.

But despite a series of encouraging swims in Adelaide, Australia look set to head to London with only one genuine gold medal favourite in 20-year-old Magnussen.

The 100m freestyle world champion looks to have the gold medal at his mercy in his pet event and has also emerged as a contender for the 50m crown, while his presence in the 100m freestyle and medley relays has them in gold medal reckoning too.

But beyond that, and possibly the strong-looking women’s relay teams, the Dolphins need a host of swimmers in the mix for medals to lift to reach the top of the dais.

Among those to establish themselves high in the season’s world rankings in Adelaide were Beijing Olympic star Stephanie Rice, Alicia Coutts, Kylie Palmer, Emily Seebohm, Belinda Hocking, Nick D’Arcy and emerging swimmers Thomas Fraser-Holmes and Chris Wright.

But none have clearly asserted themselves as the athletes to beat in London.

Nugent said after last year’s world championships in Shanghai, where Australia bagged eight silver medals and three bronze behind two gold to finish fourth on the medal tally, the focus would be on converting the minor placings into wins.

He insists Australia have improved since then but admits further progress is still needed.

“We have shifted forwards since that time and probably one of the reasons for that is there has been a long period to prepare for this event since the world championships in August last year,” Nugent said.

“It has given our athletes time to knuckle down with some good solid work and get to this level.

“But the challenge now obviously is to keep that going and take another step between now and London.

Nugent is also hopeful a host of emerging youngsters will benefit from another four months’ preparation.

While comeback veterans Ian Thorpe, Michael, Klim and Geoff Huegill failed to make the team, pleasingly fresh faces emerged in the form of James Roberts, Mitch Larkin, Daniel Tranter, David McKeon, Cameron McEvoy, Tessa Wallace and Bronte Campbell.

“I think there has been a shift and when you get that pressure from underneath that forces the older guys to knuckle down or get out,” Nugent said.

Yolane Kukla, at just 16, is the youngest member of the squad, while 28-year-old Rickard is the oldest.

Queensland athletes dominate the squad while Brisbane-based coach Michael Bohl has the most competitors with nine.

Defending Olympic champions on the team:
– Leisel Jones (100m breaststroke)
– Libby Trickett (100m freestyle)
– Stephanie Rice (200m individual medley, 400m individual medley)
– Women’s 4x200m freestyle relay
– Women’s 4x100m medley relay

– Oldest team member: Brenton Rickard (28)
– Youngest team member: Yolane Kukla (16)

Australia’s recent Olympic swimming medal returns:
– Beijing 2008: Six gold, six silver, eight bronze.
– Athens 2004: Seven gold, five silver, three bronze.
– Sydney 2000: Five gold, nine silver, four bronze.
– Atlanta 1996: Two gold, four silver, six bronze.
– Barcelona 1992: One gold, three silver, five bronze.

Australia’s total Olympic swimming medals: 176 – 58 gold, 55 silver, 63 bronze.
Australia’s best Olympic swimming gold medal haul: Eight – Melbourne 1956.
Australia’s best Olympic swimming overall medal haul: 20 – Beijing 2008
Australia’s lowest Olympic swimming medal haul: Zero – Berlin 1936 (five swimmers) and Athens 1896 (no swimmer).