PERKINS’ PICKS AUSSIE SWIMMERS TO WATCH
CATE CAMPBELL (100m freestyle)
I’ve already mentioned Cate at length. Her trials form was really impressive and she has qualified for the Games in a bunch of events. She’ll be favourite for a swag of medals but the one race closest to her competitive heart is clearly the 100m freestyle. It’s the perfect scenario to have a shot at the Olympic champion. Canada’s Penny Oleksiak will be on the Coast, but also watch for fast-rising countrywoman Taylor Ruck.
ARIARNE TITMUS (400m and 800m freestyle)
Obviously I have a soft spot for distance swimmers and a soft spot for her game plan – get out to a lead and impose yourself on the race from the start. You can see her good attitude as well and Titmus (main picture) is one of those swimmers on a career upswing for these Games. I wouldn’t be surprised to see massive seconds of improvement and she is already posting world-class times. She’s ready to take the jump.
MITCH LARKIN (100m and 200m backstroke)
He gave himself a ridiculous program at the trials yet won the 400m individual medley and placed in the 50m backstroke with just a 10-minute break between finals. He has an ironman program of five individual swims at the Games and the attitude to take it on impresses me. He has two medley swims but, as a dual world champion from 2015, the two backstroke events are still his top targets.
MACK HORTON (400m and 1500m freestyle)
Mack did an excellent job to win the 400m at the trials yet he didn’t look at all comfortable in the 1500m. I know how much I gained over a long period in the 1500m competing with the high standards of Glen Housman, Grant Hackett and Daniel Kowalski in the same squad. Mack now has that benefit with Jack McLoughlin, a 14min48sec man, but whether he can get over the 1500m specialist is the question.
CAM MCEVOY (100m freestyle)
It’s a home Games but a home pool Games for Cam McEvoy. It should be a terrific 100m freestyle final, with McEvoy up against Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers. Cam is a real role model for swimming – humble, well-spoken and successful. He is really considered with the way he approaches things and I’m sure he’s worked out the pitfalls to being too analytical.