How are our swimmers looking after the European Championships?

This could well be our strongest Olympic swimming squad since the 1956 Melbourne games. When the pool was set ablaze by the exploits of greats such as Dawn Fraser, Murray Rose and Lorraine Crapp. This time we have the super fast Campbell sisters, The Professor James McEvoy and the highly competitive McKeon siblings. Plus plenty more who should vie for medals.

"There is always the chance for things to go wrong and swimmers to go off the boil" Oh how true James. I am always a little worried when the Olympics come around with our swimmers having the trials so far out from the actual event. There is usually one every Olympics who was in super form months earlier and by the actual event is struggling to swim any where near his earlier times. James Magnussen is a prime example from the London games.

Lets have a look; Adrian 47 mid in 2012 Morozov 47.62 in 2013, everything else 47.8, ??? on Russian athletes. All other swims in47.8 & above. Ning 47.65 in 2013, all other swims @ 47.8 & above. The only swimmers to swim better then 47.62 consistently has been Magnussen (who has not qualified) & McEvoy, who also boast that amazing time 47.04. No-one is close. Everyone is banking on McEvoy coming back to field, for some reason like Magnussen (for some reason that matters). However i see McEvoy improving. But what I would agree is that 100 free is the blue riband & expect to be more competitive as Spruce tried to imply.

I certainly respect what you are saying, and agree that there are no certainties, but I don't think that Sjostrom's situation in the W100fly and McEvoy's in the M100free are quite as comparable as you would portray. Firstly, do either of them have any further "topside" on their current times they've put down this year; ie what is the liklihood that they can/will improve on these marks ? Hard to say with Sjostrom, her time at Stockholm was close to her WR but she has been the one that's been nudging that WR forward. In McEvoy's case, he has swum the fastest textile time and anything faster was suits era. In other words, inconclusive but probably narrowly shading in Sjostrom's direction. The second, and more important. question is how likely is that their competition will narrow the gap/by how much and which of the two is more likely to "come back to their competion". In the W100fly, the only other sub 56sec was Vollmer 4 years ago and whilst she's done amazingly to get back to where she has, its another stretch to think she'll get back to those marks. Realistically, 56low is probably as close as they'll get and thats still some distance from the times Sjostrom has be dropping this year. In the M100free, however, we do have a number of guys who can go 47mid. Whether they can get to 47low is another matter but if McEvoy is only swimming 47mid then its "game on". Outside this amazing time, McEvoys marks have been damned quick but still in a range that his competion will see as "in range". Both are clear and deserving favourites but I feel Sjostrom's situation is somewhat stronger than McEvoys

Sjostrom is swimming in the 100 fly!!!! It's still a 100, anything can happen, she is about the same time (1s) as McEvoy is from the nearest contender.

In swimming the 800 metres & with 400 metres to go, Ledecky's time at the 400 metres with her feet is quicker then all her rivals. Nothing is certain, illnesses, injuries, lost of form, but she is as near certainty as you could get.

While I think McAvoy is the favourite for gold in the 100m, I wouldn't consider him a lock. We only need to see what happened to Magnussen in 2012 who bombed on the big stage. Anything can happen in a 100m. Sjostrom is a lock. Ledecky is a Fort Knox.

I wonder if the betting markets will even bother with the women's 400m and 800m. It would be borderline criminal to accept bets on anyone but Ledecky.

Again we are saying the same thing just about different swimmers. McEvoy is nearly a second on his fellow contenders, just like Sjostrom & neither has their name engraved. Seebohm's trial swim was not as dominant as last couple of years, so too Franklin swims in 200 has not been dominant since 2013 (3 years ago), so I see a bigger ??? over Franklin over 200 then Seebohm over the 100. As for C2 in 50, I don't tend to agree, I think C2 has a better potential to improve then those you mentioned, Halsall hasn't gone near sub 24s for 2 years now, she will struggle in RIO. The other 2 are good swimmers, but I think C2 improvement is greater.

Again appreciate that he hasn't done at world level yet, but i have confidence that Horton will be one of the stars as far as Australia is concerned at RIO & going forward. His illness apart, he would have shown himself a player last year.

My take on it with Abood on the team, we are only a medal chance, he is at best a low 48 split, unless McEvoy blows everyone away. However, if Roberts is right, he has the ability to swim a low to mid 47 split, which would make the Aussies close to taking Gold.

Fully respect your viewpoint re Horton & agree that he is most certainly a clear contender. However, that issue of "doing it" in the big time has me placing him on a tier below our quartet of favourites .... and the W4X100.

It will certainly be a test of Magnussen's character to see whether his ego will accept the lowering in stature of being only a relay swimmer. A 47low split would be great but I think they'd take a 47highish given what we've seen this year. He's an erratic fellow when it comes to this relay; stellar in 2011 ordinary in 2012 & 2013 yet he's generally on his game with the 4xMED. Roberts does concern me given his international record. He was also at 2011 Worlds where despite having the 2nd individual berth; he was culled from the final line-up for the 4x100 relay. He's my biggest question mark, and I might be tempted to go with Abood ahead of him. Agree that the French are the team to beat.

Kromowidjojo went 24.07 at Euros, that kinda indicates that she's likely to give it a nudge. Halsall & Sjostrom have been sub24 and have at least matched or bettered C2's Trials time this year whereas C2's best is 24.13. Whilst I think that she may break 24 at some stage, I'm not too sure that it will be this year given its had its injury niggles. I could certainly be wrong, indeed I'll be very happy for that to happen. Its C1's race to lose but its the 100 where you're likely to see both on the podium. Sjostrom is currently a second ahead of the rest and in a 100, thats a long way. The only other person to ever go there was Vollmer 4 years ago. US Trials will tell us whether we have anyone between Sjostrom and the current ruck of swimmers at 56high. McKeon is potentially a player but its a medal chance that I classify as a possible rather than likely. With regards to Franklin, we'll need to see how US Trials play out. Whilst not ruling her out in the 100, I do think she's got a battle ahead of her to repeat London, maybe even to medal. The 200 is different; only 2 others have been sub 2.06 in recent memory (Seebohm & Fesikova and both only just). If she's still looking iffy at US Trials then the 200 is certainly "game on" Seebohm has been the predominant figure in the 100 over the past couple of years and deserves favouritism barring someone swimming something unbeleivable at US. However, it was hard to get a read on her at AUS Trials. She was good but not stellar (granted her good is still bloody good) and being rolled in the 200 did raise a question mark. Was she not fully tapered for AUS Trials; hard to say. I think she can go 1 from 2, but I think her other half may be the better chance of doubling up Completely agree regarding the current positive omens for the W4XMED; however I think much may revolve around the confidence level of the various members of that relay. If they've had a successful meet (which may be measured differently for each of them); then that augers well. In Kazan, two were flying but at least one of the others had had a poor meet and this carried over to the relay.

Great way to start the 7-10 golds with a 4X100 free gold. I think this is the strongest team for a long time, both men & women strong at same time. Remembering qualifying was top 8 in Kazan.

I have a very good feeling with Horton, fully understand, but I accept the excuse of illness, his performance last year, has people worried, but i really think this guy is our next middle/long distance freestyle superstar. Tough in 1500, but huge chance in 400.

Wobat, I will quote you, Sjostrom's name is not engraved, but clear favourite. Mckeon is on the improve, agree with you there are 4-5 swimmers battling for medals behind Sjostrom, but Mckeon's improvement makes the 4X100med favourites in my eye, especially with Bohl's improvement. As for C2 in the 50 free, I can only see improvement from her if injury free, I have not seen too many sub 24sec from her rivals & anyone improves, she would the one most likely. C1 to win it. For your comments on Seebolm in 100back, see Franklin in 200back, she has not been that dominant swimmer since 2013.

James, I'm not concerned with Roberts, he had a very poor Olympics in 2012, not sure what happened, but this was common amongst the freestyle men in London. For the next year WC, he was clearly affected by issue with disk in his back. He has fought back magnificently to swim the time he did he the trials, I expect both Roberts & Maggie to improve but have France favourites (they are great relay swimmers) & ? on the US team until after US trials. Same with Maggie, poor relay in London, but at WCs, his relay swims have been quite good.