Australian Swimming Team Faces Shock Exit from World Championship Relay
Australia's swimming team faces unexpected elimination from the World Championship mixed 4x100m freestyle relay final, despite holding world and championship records in the event.
Australian swimming team during the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore
Defending Champions Australia Miss Mixed 4x100m Freestyle Relay Final
In a stunning turn of events at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, Australia's dominant swimming team has failed to qualify for the mixed 4×100 freestyle relay final, finishing 11th overall with a time of 3:25.15 in prelims.
Unexpected Performance from World Record Holders
The result comes as a significant setback for the Australian team, who currently hold both the World Record and Championship Record in this event. The defending champions, who set these records with a time of 3:18.83 in 2023, finished .21 seconds behind eighth-place Canada (3:24.94).
Relay Team Performance Breakdown
- Kai Taylor: Lead-off time of 48.37
- Max Giuliani: Second leg in 49.00
- Hannah Casey: Third leg split of 54.23
- Milla Jansen: Anchor leg in 53.55
This unexpected result stands in stark contrast to Australia's overall championship performance, where they have already secured victories in the women's and men's 4×100 free relays and the women's 4×200 free relay.
Earlier Championship Success
Despite this setback, Australia's swimming prowess has been evident throughout the championships, demonstrating the kind of sporting excellence that has made the nation a leader in international competition. The team secured third place in the men's 4×200 free relay and fifth in the mixed 4×100 medley relay earlier in the week.
Jack Thompson
Reporter based in Sydney, Jack covers climate issues, migration policies, and Australia's Indo-Pacific strategy.