The Commonwealth Games swimming trials start Monday and the Bull Sharks pond is abuzz with activity.
Bond University swimming head coach, Chris Mooney, has led plenty of Dolphins to global success. He knows as well as anyone what it takes to make it into one of the most exclusive sporting teams in the world.
Here, he explains why Glasgow is a pivotal pitstop en route to LA 2028, and shares his thoughts on Bond’s biggest chances next week.
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“The Commonwealth Games aren’t quite the penultimate event before the Olympics, but it's one of the major ones. If you're looking for peak performance in 2028, you've got to be thereabouts this year and next year, and this is one of the opportunities you need to be ready for.
The squad has been in such a long period of hard work and made all the right sacrifices. It doesn't matter what you've done previously - this is the moment where you've got to put the curtains up and just stick to your process and just get your hand on the wall.
You have to stay in your lane and just trust your process”.
Bond University students competing in the trials
Ben Armbruster
Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science
Sports Leadership Scholar
Age: 24
He’s been travelling really well and you can see over the past six weeks that prior to main sets, he has been separating himself from the group. The headphones go in, the hoodies comes, up and he’s taking time to psych himself up and think about his process, thinking, ‘what I do today is going to be the catalyst to get me on the wall first.’
He's dialled in early and it’s about all the bits and pieces he’s done over the last six years. It’s his time now and in 2028, and that realisation is starting to shine through.
Catch him in: 100m butterfly, 50m freestyle, 50m butterfly.
Hannah Casey*
Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science
Hancock Prospecting Swimming Excellence Scholar
Age: 20
Her events are early in the program, so she’ll know in the first three to four days whether she’s on the team or not.
You’ve got some of the greatest swimmers in the world in her races, but last year she put some really good training together and battled through injury and illness and had a very, very successful year with two gold medals at the world championships.
She wants to get back there desperately, and you can’t fault her prep – it’s been amazing. She's probably trained the most out of the squad and hasn’t cut any corners.
She’s probably been a tougher taskmaster than what I’ve been and that doesn’t happen too often”.
Catch her in: 200m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 50m freestyle
Max Guilliani*
Diploma of Built Environment
Hancock Prospecting Swimming Excellence Scholar
Age: 22
He’s a big chance. Not only in the individual races, but he’s also an integral part of the 4 x 100m and 4 x 200m relays.
If we want to beat the Americans on their home soil in another couple of years, it starts now. Winning’s a habit – we like to put the best four guys up on the block and give them some good reps at it.
He’ll obviously be guns blazing to qualify in the individuals but also the relay spots for sure”.
Catch him in: 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle
Mia O’Leary*
Bachelor of Business
Hancock Prospecting Swimming Excellence Scholar
Age: 23
She’s been getting closer and closer, and this will be a really good opportunity for her to step up and make it count.
It’s her time now – she’s in a really good position to make this team.
Catch her in: 50m breaststroke, 100m breaststroke
Joshua Collett*
Bachelor of Biomedical Science
Hancock Prospecting Swimming Excellence Scholar
Age: 22
He’s got a few arrows in that quiver of his which helps take the pressure off just the one event.
He just has to stay in his lane, trust his process, and if he gets that right, he’ll be very exciting to watch.
Catch him in: 100m breaststroke, 200m breaststroke
Ainsley Trotter*
Bachelor of Journalism
Hancock Prospecting Swimming Excellence Scholar
Age: 18
This is her opportunity to break into the senior ranks.
Her skills are sublime and she’s strong and fit. But when you’ve got a Mollie O’Callaghan and a Kaylee (McKeown) in front of you, it’s a matter of no pressure – in a sense it’s a free hit. You’ve got to do the best you can – learn what you can, and get as close to them as you can.
When there’s no pressure, sometimes it allows you to put an incredible swim out there.
Her turn is coming.
Catch her in: 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke
Mathilda (Tilly) King*
Bachelor of Laws
Sports Leadership Scholar
Age: 20
There’s eight girls that could win the breaststroke.
It’s about getting a lane in the final, and then just beating as many to the wall as you can.
It's not what time you do - it's about getting your hand on the wall first.
Catch her in: 50m breaststroke, 100m breaststroke, 200m breaststroke
Other Bull Sharks to keep an eye on:
Flynn Southam
Age: 21
Catch him in: 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle
Gideon Burnes*
Age: 20
Catch him in: 50m breaststroke, 100m breaststroke
Milla Jansen*
Age: 19
Bachelor of Business (Marketing)
Hancock Prospecting Swimming Excellence Scholar
Catch her in: 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 50m freestyle
Campbell Wilson-Moran
Age: 18
Bachelor of Journalism
Hancock Prospecting Swimming Excellence Scholar
Catch him in: 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke
*Vying for Commonwealth Games debut