SWIMMING: Eleven-time Olympic medallist Ryan Lochte will headline the USA team to compete at the Aquatic Super Series in Perth this month.
Lochte leads a 24-strong squad along with dual Olympic gold medallist Cullen Jones.
Lochte will be making his debut in the January 30-31 competition in which USA, Australia, China and Japan go head-to-head in swimming and waterpolo.
The 30-year-old was in Australia last year for the Pan Pacific Championships on the Gold Coast was looking forward to returning to the country.
"The Australian swim team always presents a tough challenge, so to come back to Australia and compete against them is a great racing opportunity for Team USA," he said.
The event will see some of the biggest names in world swimming go head-to-head over the two nights, including USA swimmer Tyler Clary and Aussie Mitch Larkin who won gold and bronze respectively at the Pan Pacific Championships in the 200m backstroke.
Olympic medallists Elizabeth Beisel, Conor Dwyer and Shannon Vreeland will also join the line-up for Perth, in what will be a fast paced format of swimming.
Swimming Australia’s Chief Executive Officer Mark Anderson said the inclusion of the USA will only increase the awareness of the event and the demand for broadcast internationally.
“For the Australian Swim Team to race against some of their most rivalled competitors, Team USA, it will bring a fantastic atmosphere to the grand stand and only increase the demand for international broadcast, which is an incredible opportunity to grow the sport and showcase what Western Australia has to offer”, said Anderson.
James Magnussen, Cate Campbell and Emily Seebohm headline the Australian team.
Pan Pacific Championship gold medallist Cameron McEvoy, four-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist Emma McKeon and her brother, dual Commonwealth Games medallist David McKeon, are also on the bill.
Full Australian Team here:
MEN: Tommaso D’Orsogna, Thomas Fraser-Holmes, Jayden Hadler, Mack Horton, Grant Irvine, Mitchell Larkin, James Magnussen, Travis Mahoney, Cameron McEvoy, David McKeon, Jake Packard and Buster Sykes.
WOMEN: Jessica Ashwood, Bronte Barratt, Cate Campbell, Bronte Campbell, Brittany Elmslie, Madeline Groves, Emma McKeon, Taylor McKeown, Keryn McMaster, Emily Seebohm, Lorna Tonks and Madison Wilson.
The USA Swim Team is:
MEN: Tyler Clary, Conor Dwyer, BJ Johnson, Cullen Jones, Ryan Lochte, Michael McBroom and Tim Phillips
WOMEN: Cammile Adams, Kathleen Baker, Elizabeth Beisel, Maya DiRado, Madison Kennedy, Micah Lawrence, Felicia Lee, Becca Mann, Allison Schmitt and Shannon Vreeland
Friday 30 January 2015
Swimming competition – Australia v China, Japan and USA
Water polo competition – Australia v China (women)
Saturday 31 January 2015
Swimming competition – Australia v China, Japan and USA
Water polo competition – Australia v USA (men)
Event Twitter handle - @AquaticSeries
Event hashtag - #SuperSeriousFun
Swimming Australia
