ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — Cameron McEvoy completed an unprecedented sweep of the 50-, 100- and 200-meter freestyle national titles to spearhead a 34-strong team of Australian swimmers who automatically qualified for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The 21-year-old McEvoy's performances in Adelaide over the eight-day trials ending Thursday overshadowed James Magnussen, who finished outside the top two in each race he contested and missed the initial team. The Olympic 100 freestyle silver medalist and former world champion can still be added as a relay swimmer before the May 31 deadline.
Based on performances, the Australian squad contained 10 No. 1 ranked swimmers, giving rise to confidence that the squad can once again compete in the medals standings in the Olympic pool after its worst performance in 20 years in London in 2012.
Australia's head coach Jacco Verhaeren didn't make any medal predictions at the completion of the trials, but said. "swimming has got its mojo back, which is a great thing and where it should be in Australia."
The team is headlined by dual individual world champion backstrokers Mitch Larkin and Emily Seebohm, and the Campbell sisters Cate and Bronte.
Cate Campbell completed a double, narrowly missing world records, by adding the 50 freestyle title in a Commonwealth record 23.84 seconds on Thursday to her victory in the 100 freestyle.
"We will never talk about medals or records. We will keep them in the process of doing things right," said Verhaeren, who was hired after Australia's swimming failure at the 2012 Olympics. "Rankings that go into an Olympics don't mean much — what it means is that you are competitive."
Mack Horton wrapped up the trials with victory in the 1,500, swimming under world-record pace for much of the race before finishing outside the mark in 14 minutes, 39.54 seconds.
The Australian team will feature at least 21 swimmers making their Olympic debut.
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Australian squad: Jessica Ashwood, Bronte Barratt, Joshua Beaver, Georgia Bohl, Bronte Campbell, Cate Campbell, Kyle Chalmers, Tamsin Cook, Alicia Coutts, Brittany Elmslie, Blair Evans, Thomas Fraser-Holmes, Madeline Groves, Jacob Hansford, Belinda Hocking, Mack Horton, Grant Irvine, Mitch Larkin, Travis Mahoney, Cameron McEvoy, David McKeon, Emma McKeon, Taylor McKeown, Jack McLoughlin, Keryn McMaster, David Morgan, Leah Neale, Kotuku Ngawati, Jake Packard, Joshua Palmer, Emily Seebohm, Daniel Smith, Brianna Throssell, Madison Wilson.
