Aussie Trials: Does The Class Of 2023 Hold The Key To Dolphins Relay Dominance in the Countdown to LA28 ?
The World Juniors class of 2023 could well hold the key to the future of Australia’s on-going women’s freestyle relay domination in the countdown to LA28.
A major feature of the up-coming Australian Trials at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre from June 8-13 will be the next round of auditions for the Dolphins world beating women’s 4×100 and 4x200m freestyle relay teams.
Olympic and world champions and world record holders in both events with jostling for positions in both teams always a key attraction at any Australian Trials.
The Australians continued their winning ways in both relays in last year’s World’s in Singapore – despite the departure of retired Olympic champions Emma McKeon, Ariarne Titmus, and Brianna Throssell.
But who will take their places in LA28 knowing the ultimate battle against the improving US strength and depth will be waiting to ambush.
These Trials will see Australia’s teams selected for this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and then the power and might of the US, Canada and Japan at the Pan Pacs in Irvine, California – and the Class of ‘23 will be front and centre.
With reduced team sizes and an expected relay finals only in Glasgow, the battle for individual and relay places will be even more cutthroat in a rebuilding phase for the next Olympics.
Australia’s women’s 4x100m freestylers have reigned supreme winning the last four Olympic gold medals in London, Rio, Tokyo and Paris.
Three members of the victorious Paris team Mollie O’Callaghan and Shayna Jack (St Peters Western, QLD) and Meg Harris (Rackley, QLD) will lead the charge again for individual and relay spots in 2026.
While in the 4x200m the Australian girls have been the dominant force over the past five years – winning Olympic gold in 2024 with only O’Callaghan and Lani Pallister (St Peters Western, QLD the surviving members from Paris, lining up at these ’26 Trials.
TOP OF THE CLASS: Australia’s Women’s 4x100m freestyle relay gold medallists atbthye Singapore World’s 2025 (L-R) Mollie O’Callaghan, Meg Harris, Milla Jansen and Olivia Wunsch. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).
So enter the Class of ‘23 and their Israel results;
Olivia Wunsch (Carile, NSW) – winner of the 50 and 100m freestyle;
Milla Jansen (Bond, QLD) – winner of silver in the 100m freestyle
(Noting that the USA’s Anna Moesch was third behind the Australian girls in the 100m three years ago and has just clocked a 51.94, a new US record and the second fastest time in history in London).
Hannah Casey (Bond, QLD) – winner of bronze in the 50m freestyle and;
Jamie De Lutiis (Carlile, NSW) who combined with new training partner Wunsch, Jansen and Casey to win the 4x100m freestyle and with Casey, Jansen and 400m freestyle winner Jamie Perkins (St Peters Western, QLD) who finished second to the US in the 4x200m.
*(Perkins, who swam the heats of the 4x200m in Paris won’t swim these Trials after under-going recent shoulder surgery).
Wunsch, the freestyle star of those 2023 World Juniors in Israel with five gold medals, graduated from her heats duties in her Olympic debut in Paris to a starring role in Singapore alongside relay mainstays Olympic and world champions O’Callaghan and Harris.
It was Wunsch who duelled with US gun Torri Huske down a thrilling final lap who sealed the gold and Australia’s seventh world championship crown with a stunning final 25 metres.
While another ’23 graduate in Jansen swam her way into the 4x100m finals team before unleashing a solid third leg while Casey also made her debut in the heats.
Throw in Abbey Webb (Cruiz, ACT) who swam the relays heats in Singapore and Olympic butterflyer Alex Perkins (USC Spartans, QLD) who was fifth in the Australian Open in March behind O’Callaghan, Harris, Wunsch and Jack and ahead of Jansen, Casey and Webb and an intriguing battle royal awaits.
The 4×200 girls have also ruled the pool with world titles in 2023 and 2025 and Olympic gold in between.
But with Jamie Perkins out and Jack dropping the 200m to concentrate on the 50 and 100m, there are some opportunities for the next gen.
YEAH YEAH: Aussie relay swimmers Lani Pallister, Jamie Perkins and Brittany Castelluzzo screaming as Mollie O’Callaghan brings home the 4x200m freestyle relay gold. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).
South Australia’s world championship butterflyer Brittany Castelluzzo (\Tea Tree Gully, SA) emerged in Singapore, forcing her way into the finals foursome from a heats team that also included major contenders Webb, Jansen and Casey.
In Sydney they’ll all be joined by sprinter Harris, who swam a personal best of 1:55.97 at the 2025 Queensland Championships;
While WA’s 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games 200 and 400m freestyle gold medallist Inez Miller (Highlanders WA/University of Texas) is also among the contenders.
As is another 2023 Israel Junior World’s in Amelia Weber (St Peters Western, QLD) with the 200m freestyle again emerging as one of the toughest and most sought-after selection races.
2026 Australian Swimming Trials – Event Page
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