2021 SWIMMING AUSTRALIA OLYMPIC TRIALS
- Saturday, June 12th – Thursday, June 17th
- South Australia Aquatic & Leisure Centre, Adelaide, Australia
- Sole Olympic-Qualifying Opportunity
- 2021 Swimming Australia Olympic Nomination Criteria
- Meet Site
- Final Start List
- Live results
- Qualifying Criteria
- Day 4 Finals Live Stream (Amazon Prime required)
En route to a gold medal and a spot on the 2021 Australian Olympic team, Madeleine Gough has delivered a new national record of 15:46.13 in the 1500 freestyle.
The swim was under the Australian Olympic qualifying time of 16:02.75 as well as the former Aussie record of 15:52.17 set by Jessica Ashwood in 2015. Ashwood swam that time at the 2015 World Swimming Championships in Kazan, Russia which gave her a 5th place finish in the event.
Gough has shaved a decent amount of time off her former PB in the event which stood at a 15:55.14 which she swam at the 2021 Sydney Open in May of this year. Prior to that, she has only been under 16:00 3 other times with a 15:55.14 at the 2019 Australian Trials, a 15:58.09 at the 2019 Australian Nationals, and a 15:59.40 at the 2019 World Championships.
With the swim, Gough advances to #8 in the all-time rankings of the event, replacing Hungary swimmer Boglarka Kapas‘ 15:47.09 from back in 2015.
All-time Women’s Long Course 1500 Freestyle Rankings
- Katie Ledecky (USA) – 15:20.48 (2018)
- Lotte Friis (DEN) – 15:38.88 (2013)
- Lauren Boyle (NZL) – 15:40.14 (2015)
- Simona Quadarella (ITA) – 15:40.89 (2019)
- Kate Ziegler (USA) – 15:42.54 (2007)
- Alessia Filippi (ITA) – 15:44.93 (2009)
- Jianjiahe Wang (CHN) – 15:45.59 (2020)
- Madeleine Gough – 15:46.13 (2021)
Gough is now ranked #3 in the world this season behind Katie Ledecky‘s 15:40.55 and Wang Jianjiahe‘s 15:45.59.
2020-2021 LCM Women 1500 Free
Ledecky
15:35.35
| 2 | Erica Sullivan | USA | 15:41.41 | 07/28 |
| 3 | Wang Jianjiahe | CHN | 15:41.49 | 07/26 |
| 4 | Sarah Kohler | GER | 15:42.91 | 07/28 |
| 5 | Maddy Gough | AUS | 15:46.13 | 06/15 |
Gough stayed fairly even throughout the race and split a 31 on every single 50 except the first (29.80) and last (30.94). Additionally, was even in her 500 splits, opening it up with a 5:15.39, followed by a 5:15.87, and then came home in a 5:14.84.
She actually nearly exactly evenly split the race, producing an opening 750 split of 7:53.04 before coming back with a closing 750 split of 7:53.09.
While Gough has now notched a spot on the Australian contingent heading to Tokyo, so too did her fellow TSS distance swimmer Kiah Melverton who posted a 15:57.14 for second place which also got her under the qualifying standard. Moesha Johnson and Melverton were together for the majority of the race until Melverton pulled away on the final 100, leaving Johnson with a 15:59.96 for third place. With Kareena Lee‘s 16:02.31, the entire top 4 was under the 16:02.75 OQT but the top 2 will have a shot at the event in Tokyo.
A huge PB. Ledecky is seriously threatened in the middle distance events but in the 1500 I can’t see anyone getting close to her. So it’s all about the minor medals and now Gough has put herself in the frame.
Gough certainly has put herself in the frame for the minor coin with this performance. Having said that, THAT battle could be a fierce one.
Would agree that Ledecky still has sufficient “margin” in the 1500, and probably the 800, that she’d have to either not turn up in the morning, or be very ill, not to win. Whilst still in the 200 picture, she’s no longer in a position of dominance and Titmus has bridged the gap at 400.
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