The psyche sheet for the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series in Perth, Australia is out, and the lineups are lightning fast. The timed finals competition will take place Jan. 30 – 31. Some of the finest swimmers from China, Australia, Japan and USA will rally for two quick sessions Down Under.
Team USA brings a team modest in numbers (27 total), but busting with talent.
Allison Schmitt and Shannon Vreeland will duke it out with Aussies Bronte Barratt and Emma McKeon in the 200 free. Elizabeth Beisel and Maya DiRado will try to hold off defending Olympic 200 and 400 IM champ, 18-year-old Ye Shiwen of China.
USA will lean on Margo Geer and Madison Kennedy in the 50 free, with the Campbell sisters and China’s Qiu Yuhan seeded ahead of them.
Beisel and 17-year-old phenom Kathleen Baker will try to stave off Japan’s Sayaka Kase and Australia’s backstroke royalty, Emily Seebohm, in the 200 back. Becca Mann, another 17-year-old fish (and newly-minted author) will be USA’s go-to distance girl (400, 800 free).
Cullen Jones and Jimmy Feigen will strive to hold off Aussie sprint powers James Magnusson and Cameron McEvoy in the 100 free, and Jones and Josh Schneider will be up against the same swift crowd in the 50 free.
The men’s 200 back is bound to be a thrill with American studs Ryan Lochte and Tyler Clary racing Japan’s Olympic silver medalist in the event, Ryosuke Irie. Lochte will also duel defending SC world champ, Australia’s Mitch Larkin and Irie in the 100 back.
With only 15 events per day (one heat of each) and sprint relays (200 medley and 200 free), this Super Series is a swimmer’s, and a swim fan’s, dream come true.
#SwimTheSwan, the open water portion of the Super Series, takes place in Perth’s Swan River on February 1. Andrew Gemmell and Haley Anderson, 2014 Pan Pacific Championship gold medalists, will highlight the elite pack in the Swan. But the general public is also invited to take the plunge. Go U-S-A!
USA Roster
Cammile Adams
Haley Anderson
Kathleen Baker
Elizabeth Beisel
Maya DiRado
Eva Fabian
Margo Geer
Christine Jennings
Madison Kennedy
Micah Lawrence
Felicia Lee
Becca Mann
Katie Meili
Allison Schmitt
Shannon Vreeland
Tyler Clary
Jimmy Feigen
Andrew Gemmell
BJ Johnson
Ryan Lochte
Michael McBroom
Alex Meyer
Cody Miller
Tim Phillips
Sean Ryan
Josh Schneider
Darian Townsend