With the lead-up to the "Ultimate Short Course Showdown" nearly upon us in Melbourne, Australia, it's time to hear what the elite athletes and top officials had to say during the opening press conference.
The Athletes
Madison Wilson
Representing the host nation at the opening presser, "Madi" is an Olympic medallist, five-time FINA World Champion and a member of three Australian Dolphin world record-setting relay teams.
Madi on what it means to compete in Melbourne:
"The Australia team is absolutely buzzing at the moment. We are excited to be here. We endured Covid-19 challenges for more than two years. It's been 15 years since FINA last hosted an event in Melbourne. And we so often have to travel quite far for so many different competitions. It makes me emotional that my family and friends will be in the crowd."
Madi on spreading the stoke for this edition of the FINA World Swimming Championships:
"I told everyone at the Swimming World Cup this year that they have to come to Melbourne and compete here. In August, the crowds and the atmosphere for the Duel in the Pool was fantastic. We had kids hanging from the railing and throwing us stuff to sign. And this event, it will be even more fun and exciting."
David Popovici
The long course world record holder in the 100m freestyle and 200m world junior record holder has been on a tear in 2022, including winning two FINA World titles and three FINA World Junior Championship events earlier this year.
On racing in the 25m pool:
"I don't think it's a bluff to say that I don’t like swimming short course events; I am sort of built for long course competition. The turns and starts are more intense in short course, so this is a great opportunity to gather information and to gain experience and to be the best version that I can be."
On the Popovici v Chalmers showdown:
Sure, there is a rivalry between me and Kyle, but I think the rivalry is only in long course. Kyle holds the world record in short course events and I am the world record holder in long course events. So, perhaps in a few years, this rivalry will be real. My goal is to qualify for the final, and as we all know, once you have a lane, you have a chance."
Melbourne's sights and scenes have already made an impression on the impressionable 18-year-old from Bucharest, Romania:
"It's beautiful here. I have wanted to come to Australia for a long time. The culture of sports is a very big thing in Australia. Children and adults here enjoy a healthy lifestyle with swimming and aquatic sports, and in fact, anything sports related. The people here are very friendly and open. It’s nice to see so much green and to be here in the summer. I like it! Although the event has not yet gotten underway, I am sure that it will be one of my favourite events."
Lilly King
As a two-time Olympic Gold Medallist, 10-time FINA World Champion and 4-time short course world title winner, the breaststroke specialist and Indiana University alum comes in as one of the most decorated athletes in Melbourne.
Lilly, your last short course worlds was in 2016 when you won four titles. What brings you back to racing in the 25m pool on the international stage?
"Long story short, I wanted to come to Australia. For this trip, as I am not in school anymore my schedule worked out well. I consider Australia as the USA’s southern cousin."
Lilly, there seem to be some pretty great rivalries in the women's breaststroke events right now...
"I live for the rivalry. It's been fun for me to get behind the blocks and not know what's going to happen. I love to race and I love to win. I am excited it will be a dogfight. I have enjoyed racing these girls during 2022 and again here."
Sports Leaders
FINA President, Husain Al-Musallam
"It’s wonderful to be here in Australia after so many years. Australia, as we all know, is an aquatic and swimming nation. Australian athletes and all athletes from throughout the world will compete to be the best here. We are looking forward to a wonderful competition."
FINA President Al-Musallam on athletes moving into sports leadership positions:
"I am happy to acknowledge that Australian swimmer Brenton Rickard, an Olympic medallist and a FINA World Champion, is chairing the organising committee for this event. We hope that many other athletes will someday have opportunities for leadership. Thanks for inviting FINA to Melbourne and best wishes to everyone as you enjoy the competition."
Swimming Australia CEO Eugenie Buckley
"Welcome back to Melbourne after 15 years since the 2007 FINA World Championships. For Australia Swimming, this is the icing on the cake to a great year, 2022. The Dolphins competed in the World Paralympic Championships, the FINA World Championships in Budapest and the Commonwealth Games. We hosted our friendly rivals from the USA for another edition of the Duel in the Pool. It will be exciting to witness the matchups between King Kyle (Chalmers) and David Popovici, and also to watch Emma McKeon racing against Siobhan Haughey. And Australia, we love our relays as well."
FINA Executive Director Brent Nowicki
On Melbourne and Swimming Australia stepping up to host the 16th FINA World Swimming Championships:
"We know that much is required by the local organising committee to put an event of this magnitude on. It's also not easy for the National Federations to quickly pivot and make tough decision whether they will attend, and we know that the athletes often have to pivot their training in order to attend. So many athletes have done this, in great strides and with great smiles. We appreciate everyone coming together and working together to make our 2022 events so very successful."
Visit Victoria CEO Brendan McClements
About 12 years ago, we set our plan to attract as many world-class events as possible. So when Eugenie (Buckley) came to us, it was a no brainer. We are committed to go as hard as we could as quickly as we could for as long as we could. We are pleased to be a part of delivering this great event to the athletes in this wonderful facility."
Contributing: Gregory Eggert