World records tumble at 2022 Australian Swimming Championships in Adelaide

More than 600 of Australia’s elite swimmers have competed at the 2022 Australian Swimming Championships at the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre held from 18th to 22nd May.

With selection for the upcoming FINA World Championships and Commonwealth Games on the line, two world records and two Australian records were broken during the event, as competitors sough to make the 49 member team for the Commonwealth Games and 39 member team selected for the World Championships in Budapest.

With 9,000 fans in attendance, highlights of the event in Zac Stubblety-Cook’s effort in the 200-metre breaststroke and Ariarne Titmus’ stellar swim in the 400 freestyle.

In hosting the event, SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre General Manager, Adam Luscombe took to LinkedIn to state “what has gone on behind the scenes to make this event happen is nothing short of amazing.

“Swimming Australia, the athletes, Events SA, the coaches, the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre, SASI (South Australian Sports Institute) and event partners including Amazon Prime have all come together to deliver.

“Best of all the reactions of our swimmers hitting the finish and turning around to see that result that has taken so much mental preparation, physical preparation, countless hours, and dedication to create.”

Luscombe also highlighted that 78% of waste generated through the event was diverted from landfill.”

Myrtha Pools, who built the 50 metre stainless steel pool in which the Championships were staged, celebrated the new world records, commenting that the new times “raise the number of world records established in a Myrtha pool to a staggering total of 152”.

Luscombe went on to explain how the Championships had not interrupted the Centre’s day-to-day operations, noting “this event has all been delivered alongside all swimming lessons teaching our families to be safer around water, a huge 125 group fitness classes this week helping our community keep active and connected, exercise physiologist treating chronic conditions, lap swimming, rehabilitation lanes, steam, sauna, gym and so much more.

“Also a huge shout out to our café team who have delivered over 1,500 coffees, during the event.”

Since 2011, the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre Australia has hosted 20 international and national standard swimming competitions - injecting more than $41 million into the state’s economy.