Notable Aussie Paris Event Lineup Changes: Temple Adds 200 Fly

By Retta Race on SwimSwam

2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

Pool Swimming: July 27 – August 4, 2024

Open Water Swimming: August 8 – 9, 2024

La Défense Arena — Paris, France
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Psych Sheets

Psych sheets for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games have been published and we’re combing through for surprises and changes from what was originally thought to be the game plan for the world’s top medal contenders.

The most surprising change to come out of the nation of Australia’s Olympic lineup was that freestyle ace Lani Pallister‘s slot in the 400m event now has Jamie Perkins as the partner to top qualifier Ariarne Titmus.

You can read more about this change here.

However, there were additional notable alterations to the green and gold squad that are worth taking a look at with action beginning just 15 days from now.

Matt Temple Entered in 200 Fly

24-year-old Matt Temple topped the men’s 100m fly at the Australian Olympic Trials to qualify in the event in which he is the 8th-fastest performer of all time.

Temple dropped the 200m fly final at Trials after taking the top seed out of the heats. His morning swim of 1:56.45 was well off the Swimming Australia-mandated selection standard of 1:54.97, as was the entire final field’s performance.

Temple had cleared the World Aquatics Olympic Qualification Time during the qualifying window, however, having notched a season-best 1:55.41 at December’s Japan Open.

Mollie O’Callaghan Dropped 100 Back

Although anyone who followed our Australian Olympic Trials coverage knew this was 99% sure of happening, Mollie O’Callaghan is not contesting the women’s 100m backstroke in Paris.

At Trials, MOC unleashed a time of 57.88 to finish behind former world record holder Kaylee McKeown, becoming the world’s 4th-swiftest performer in history.

MOC said after the race,” I don’t know (if I’ll compete in this event at Paris). It really depends on if I qualified for the next few events. I think that’s the main thing is just taking it day by day.”

MOC will take on the 100m and 200m freestyle races in addition to multiple relays while 2024 World Championships multi-medalist Iona Anderson will join McKeown in the 100m back.

Jenna Strauch Given 100 Breast Nod

As a final notch in her comeback belt, 27-year-old Trials winner Jenna Strauch has been given the nod in the women’s 100m breaststroke, despite missing the Swimming Australia QT.

Strauch, who missed the 2023 championships season due to a knee injury, clocked a time of 1:06.90. That missed the World Aquatics OQT of 1:06.79 but did clear the World Aquatics OCT of 1:07.12.

This is interesting in light of the fact that World Aquatics indicated that ‘B’ cut swimmers were unlikely to receive call-ups due to the overall athlete quota. What possibly worked in Strauch’s favor is the fact she was already named to the Aussie roster for women’s medley relay duties.

Tommy Neill Adds 200 IM

Australia’s 3rd-fastest men’s 200m IMer did not contest the event at Trials but Tommy Neill now appears among the Paris entrants in addition to his 200m free.

The Trials 200m IM winner was William Petric, whose time of 1:57.54 fell painstakingly shy of the Aussie OQT of 1:57.23 although it did clear the World Aquatics OQT of 1:57.94.

Neill now joins Petric in the event, with Neill owning a lifetime best of 1:57.41 from December’s Queensland Championships.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Notable Aussie Paris Event Lineup Changes: Temple Adds 200 Fly