Swimming Australia Announces 2015 World University Games Roster

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

PERTH – Former FINA World Championship representatives Jordan Harrison, Ami Matsuo and Ned McKendry will headline a 20-strong Australian swim team named today for the 2015 World University Games in Gwangju, South Korea from July 3 to 14.

Harrison (QLD), Matsuo (NSW) and McKendry (QLD) will be joined by Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Championships representative Travis Mahoney (VIC) alongside rising star Sacha Downing (WA) who is the sole open water representative on a team selected off the recent Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Championships in Sydney.

At just 19-years-of-age, Harrison has already represented Australia at a world championships, Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacs and only narrowly missed a spot on the Australian Dolphins team for the 2015 world titles in Russia.

The Gold Coast based swimmer, who trains under Denis Cotterell at Miami, will again get the chance to perfect his race skills, with Rio 2016 on his radar, when he races against quality international competition in South Korea.

London Olympian McKendry, who won a gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games for his part in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay, will join Harrison at the World University Games on the quest for a shot at another Olympic team next year.

Making her first senior team in 2013 at the Barcelona world championships, Matsuo will be looking to gain vital international race experience alongside fellow talented teenagers Kiah Melverton (QLD) and Tianni Gilmour (QLD) in the women’s events.

While the men’s events will see rising stars, Jared Gilliland (QLD), Keiran Qaium (NSW), Nicholas Schafer (QLD) and Justin James (QLD) all searching for season best times off the back of a successful Australian Championship meet.

Head Coach of the World University Games Australian swim team, Tracey Menzies, said this year’s team had an impressive line-up.

“We have some really strong swimmers in our team this year and I am looking forward to seeing them step up and raise the bar when we compete in July,” Menzies said.

“A number of our swimmers came very close to world championship selection so now it is about lining up in South Korea and improving once again from the Australian championships, setting a season’s best time and gaining confidence through race practice.”

The World University Games will see some of the best student athletes from across the globe come together to compete.

“All of these athletes juggle study and swimming, which can be tough, so it is great to see them get the opportunity to represent Australia at an international level and prove their potential on the world stage,” Menzies said.

Uniroos team Chef de Mission Liz Morgan-Brett said the swimming team always makes a significant contribution to the overall Uniroos success at the Games.

“Our swimmers finished fourth on the swim medal table in Russia two years ago and will no doubt be aiming to surpass the four gold, two silver and four bronze medals they captured there. With the experience of Olympic, world championships and Commonwealth Games competition already behind some of the team and under the leadership of Gary Vandeburgt, team manager Petria Thomas and head coach Tracey Menzies, they will be ready to take on the world in Gwangju,” Morgan–Brett said.

The 2015 World University Games will begin on July 3 and run until July 14, information about the event can be found here: http://www.gwangju2015.com/

Men

Name Age Club

Nicholas Brown 19 Western Sprint
Jared Gilliland 20 Brothers
Jacob Hansford 20 SOPAC
Jordan Harrison 19 Miami
Justin James 22 Mackay
Travis Mahoney 25 Nunawading
Ned McKendry 23 Chandler
Jack McLoughlin 20 Brothers
Kieran Qaium 22 Sydney University
Nicholas Schafer 23 River City Rapids
Matthew Treloar 21 Trinity Grammar

Women

Name Age Club

Hayley Abood 26 Sydney University
Sacha Downing 18 Perth City
Ellen Fullerton 22 Brothers
Tianni Gilmour 19 Pelican Waters Caloundra
Jessica Hansen 20 Nunawading
Ami Matsuo 19 Carlile
Kiah Melverton 18 TSS Aquatics
Aisling Scott 22 Indooroopilly
Jordan White 22 SLC Aquadot

Team Leader: Gary Vandeburgt
Head Coach: Tracey Menzies
Coaches: Dio Mepham, Justin Rothwell, Gavin Stewart, Scott Talbot
Support Staff: Petria Thomas – Team Manager

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World. To reach our audience, contact us at newsmaster@swimmingworl d .com.

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