B- ranked set adds to pool of talent

SWIMMING Australia has plumped for hometown domination over tough love after filling its athlete quota for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games despite most of those selected failing to meet the “A” standard.

Just 12 swimmers in 15 events recorded “A” qualifiers during the meet to achieve automatic nomination, with selectors opting to take those that had notched “B” qualifying marks and finished inside the top three in their events.

Head coach Jacco Verhaeren said while a world top- eight time would remain a yardstick for the event, a full team was warranted at a home Games.

“We do have the ‘ B’ times and they definitely served their purpose,” Verhaeren said.

“We don’t want to leave medal potential and very good swimmers home because they didn’t make the ‘ A’ cut.

“That’s why we have that back door of the ‘ B’ cut and we even made the decision because it’s a home Games to reward the non- Olympic events, which is, I think, very important.

“We’re competing on home soil, we want a full team, and we want to compete in every event for medals.”

The team includes 49 able- bodied swimmers, 21 para athletes and 10 rookies.

Kaylee McKeown is the youngest member of the able- bodied squad, at 16, with Gold Coaster Elijah Winnington the youngest male at 17. West Australian backstroker Holly Barratt is the oldest at 30.

Twenty- one para- athletes also named on Saturday night.

NSW pair Jasmine Greenwood ( 13) and Matt Levy ( 31) are the oldest and youngest para athletes. were