Jessicah Schipper Leads Five Defending Champions Into Delhi

SYDNEY, Australia, March 22. DUAL individual Commonwealth Games gold medallists from Melbourne Jessicah Schipper, Leisel Jones, Stephanie Rice, Sophie Edington and Matthew Cowdrey will spearhead Australia's Commonwealth Games swim team to Delhi in October.

The five have been included in an initial squad of 48 swimmers, which includes 27 debutants, named after the Australian Championships concluded in Sydney on Sunday.

Brisbane's teenager Yolane Kukla, the winner of the 50 metres butterfly and 50m freestyle at the Trials is the youngest debutant.

The final team will not be announced until after the Pan Pacific Championships in August with the 48 made up of all swimmers who won gold or silver in an individual event at the Trials.

In a press release issued earlier today, Australian Commonwealth Games Association CEO Perry Crosswhite welcomed the first official members of the Australian team for Delhi, adding that their selection is a clear reminder to all that the Games are fast approaching.

"We've seen some fantastic results in the pool this week, some new names – and some old ones – and our swimmers always play an important role in the success of the team at the Games," said Crosswhite.

"The Commonwealth Games are renowned for revealing the next generation of sporting stars in Australia, and in Delhi we'll also get to welcome back someone like Geoff Huegill who started his remarkable journey with gold in Kuala Lumpur back in 1998."

"Whilst the final contingent of swimmers will not be confirmed until August, I would like to congratulate all athletes who have gained selection this week, especially those swimmers who will be making their Commonwealth Games debut."

The following athletes will represent Australia at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi:

2010 COMMONWEALTH GAMES SWIMMING SQUAD – 48 members

Male athletes – 25

Daniel Arnamnart (NSW), Leith Brodie (QLD), Craig Calder (NSW), Ashley Callus (QLD), Nicholas D'Arcy (QLD), Ashley Delaney (VIC), Tommaso D'Orsogna (WA) Nicholas Frost (QLD), Thomas Fraser-Holmes (NSW), Jayden Hadler (QLD), Geoff Huegill (NSW), Robert Hurley (NSW), Andrew Lauterstein (NSW), Ryan Napoleon (QLD), Cameron Prosser (VIC), Brenton Rickard (QLD), Christian Sprenger (QLD), Hayden Stoeckel (SA), Eamon Sullivan (NSW), Christopher Wright (QLD), Peter Leek (NSW), Matthew Cowdrey (SA), Ben Austin (NSW), Blake Cochrane (QLD), Andrew Pasterfield (NSW)

Female athletes – 23

Bronte Barratt (QLD), Alicia Coutts (QLD), Sophie Edington (QLD), Blair Evans (WA), Felicity Galvez (NSW), Katie Goldman (QLD), Marieke Guehrer (VIC), Melissa Gorman (QLD), Samantha Hamill (QLD), Belinda Hocking (NSW), Leisel Jones (VIC), Sarah Katsoulis (VIC), Yolane Kukla (QLD), Samantha Marshall (NSW), Alice Mills (QLD), Meagen Nay (QLD), Kylie Palmer (QLD), Leiston Pickett (QLD), Stephanie Rice (QLD), Jessicah Schipper (QLD), Emily Seebohm (QLD), Ellie Cole (VIC), Annabelle Williams (QLD)

FAST FACTS

Geoff Huegill and Ashley Callus are the oldest athletes on the team at 31, while 14-year-old Brisbane schoolgirl Yolane Kukla is the youngest.

Freestyle sprinter Ashley Callus made his Australian debut at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur – Delhi will be his fourth Commonwealth Games equalling Adam Pine's record of four consecutive Games.

Olympic champion and Leisel Jones will be heading to her third Commonwealth Games having already won seven gold medals at her previous two – three in Manchester and four in Melbourne.

There are 27 Commonwealth Games debutants on the team for Delhi.

Male debutants

Daniel Arnamnart (NSW), Craig Calder (NSW), Nicholas D'Arcy (QLD), Ashley Delaney (VIC), Tommaso D'Orsogna (WA), Thomas Fraser-Holmes (NSW), Jayden Hadler (QLD), Robert Hurley (NSW), Ryan Napoleon (QLD), Cameron Prosser (VIC), Hayden Stoeckel (SA), Christopher Wright (QLD), Peter Leek (NSW), Blake Cochrane (QLD), Andrew Pasterfield (NSW)

Female debutants
Alicia Coutts (QLD), Blair Evans (WA), Katie Goldman (QLD), Marieke Guehrer (VIC), Samantha Hamill (QLD), Belinda Hocking (NSW), Yolane Kukla (QLD), Samantha Marshall (NSW), Meagen Nay (QLD), Leiston Pickett (QLD), Emily Seebohm (QLD), Ellie Cole (VIC)

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