RISING STARS WHO ARE PUSHING FOR A SPOT ON THE AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING TEAM

ELIJAH WINNINGTON, 17

Gold Coast

Winnington set tongues wagging when he beat Mack Horton and Cameron McEvoy in the 200m freestyle at the Queensland championships before taking out Olympic champion Horton in the 400m at the NSW titles last month. Winnington will have to drop several seconds from his best time to earn a Games spot but is one rising star that could become a Dolphins rookie. JACK CARTWRIGHT, 19 Gladstone

While Kyle Chalmers, James Magnussen and Cameron McEvoy dominate the conversation for the 100m freestyle, teen sprinter Cartwright has snuck under the radar despite making the world championship final last year. Cartwright is one of five men to have dipped under the 48sec barrier for the event and if he continues to improve at the rate he heads over the past 12 months, could be a shock inclusion in the individual event.

LAURA TAYLOR, 18 Gold Coast

Taylor slashed her best time in the 200m butterfly at the recent NSW state titles to beat favourite Emma McKeon and stamp herself as a genuine threat for a Commonwealth Games spot. The Southport School squad member, who trains with Olympic butterfly representative David Morgan, is confident she can drop her times again this week to earn a spot at a home Games. KAYLEE MCKEOWN, 16 Sunshine Coast

McKeown swam her way on to the world titles team last year and finished just outside the medals in the 200m backstroke, touching fourth to set a junior world record as Emily Seebohm won. McKeown beat Seebohm at the Victorian titles last month. The 400m individual medley is where McKeown shines.