An amazing cohort of 24 QUT students will compete at the national swimming trials in Brisbane from June 10 to 15 for the chance to represent Australia at the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris.
The six-day trials are the sole Games selection meet for the Dolphins and will feature the big guns of Australian swimming.
QUT law student and Commonwealth Games gold and silver medallist Sam Short is among the favourites and goes into the meet with the fastest seed times in the 800m freestyle (Wednesday) and 1500m freestyle (Friday).
The 20-year-old’s packed schedule also includes the men’s 200m (Monday) and 400m (Monday) freestyle.
Urban development student Nick Sloman, 26, will also race the gruelling 1500m at Chandler.
The long distance specialist has already booked his ticket to Paris for the marathon swim – a 10km open water endurance test in the River Seine – after being selected in the Australian team earlier this year.
Exercise physiology student Lewis Bishop, 19, is another swimmer with a strong chance of heading to France.
He will contest the 100m butterfly multi class (MC), 200m individual medley MC, and 100m Freestyle MC, after recently representing Australia at the Para European Championships in Portugal in April.
The 2024 Olympic Games will be held from July 26 to August 11, with the Paralympic Games running from August 28 to September 8.
The QUT students competing at the 2024 Australian Swimming Trials in Brisbane are:
QUT Director of Sport Emily Rosemond, a former Olympian, said the swimmers were all part of the university’s Elite Athlete Program.
“We are incredibly proud of our 24 swimmers who are contesting the Olympic and Paralympic trials to represent Australia,” she said.
“We are really committed to supporting their best performances by allowing them to balance their training and studies, while at the pinnacle of their sporting careers.”
Ms Rosemond said the Elite Athlete Program was focused on supporting and developing talent and nurturing student-athletes.
“The university’s faculty staff are fantastic in ensuring that, wherever possible, our student athletes have the flexibility they need with timetables, classes and assessments,” she said.
“And here at QUT Sport, our Elite Athlete Program team complements that faculty flexibility with learning options and support services that are holistic in their approach.
“We know how important it is to maintain a healthy balance, and ultimately achieving positive well-being which translates to success in sport, academic and life.”
The 2024 Australian Swimming Trials will be held at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre at Chandler from June 10 to 15. Follow live results here.