Eight-time medallist at the 2010 Commonwealth Games Emily Seebohm and three time Olympic gold medallist Leisel Jones will headline the Australian charge on the third night of the 14th FINA World Championships in Shanghai tonight. Read the full story

Queensland’s smiling assassin Kylie Palmer continued her dominance at the Australian Short Course Championships in Adelaide tonight picking up her third gold medal in as many days with victory in the women’s 200m freestyle.

The Australian champion for the event over both the long and short course and fastest in the world this year, Palmer has been unstoppable all meet picking up the 200, 400 and 800m treble, with the Olympic relay gold medallist now looking to head to Shanghai full of confidence, yet still a little nervous.

“I’m pretty scared (about worlds) but I think I’m in a really good place at the moment and it would be great if I can race well at worlds as that would be really good for my confidence going into the Olympics next year,” said Palmer.

Palmer’s time of 1:55.07 was too strong for fellow world championship team member Kelly Stubbins (1:56.47) while Melbourne Vicentre teenager Jessica Morrison picked up bronze in 1:56.63.

Ellen Fullerton continued her good form at the meet picking up gold in the 200m IM to secure the individual medley double having already taken the 400m IM on the opening night.

The 18-year-old coached by Stephan Widmer covered the eight laps and four disciplines in an impressive 2:08.24, just over half a second off Emily Seebohm’s Australian record with Samantha Wilkins from Haileybury in Victoria second in 2:10.64. Jessica Pengelly from South Africa in 2:12.93 and Aisling Scott (2:13.38) from Brothers in Queensland shared third place.

Dual Olympian Jessicah Schipper showed her dominance in the women’s 200m butterfly to rack up yet another national title and her first at this meet winning by more than two seconds from fellow Queenslander Amy Smith and Sydneysider Nicole Mee.

The 24-year-old who will compete at her fifth consecutive world championships in Shanghai next month, hit the wall in 2:06.27 with the Michael Bohl coached Smith picking up silver in 2:08.53 and Mee third in 2:09.53.

Schipper’s time was exactly three seconds off her Australian record in the same event set in 2009 and the five-time world championship gold medallist will now switch her attention to Shanghai.

“I was really happy with my times this week and that puts me in good stead for my world’s campaign,” said Schipper.

“It has been good to work on a few little things like my underwater and I’m now really looking forward to getting over there and starting taper.”

 
Triple Olympian and gold medallist Leisel Jones showed she still has the sprinting qualities that have highlighted a dedicated career, breaking the 30 second barrier to hit the wall in 29.92 for gold in the 50m breaststroke.

Jones’ swim was the fourth fastest in the world this year, with Leiston Pickett from Southport Olympic picking up silver in 30.26 and recognised sprint freestyler Olivia Halicek taking bronze in 30.88.

Swimming Australia

Alicia Coutts returned from Delhi with three individual gold medals and will do the same again when she heads back to the AIS in Canberra next week, after yet another national title at the 2011 Telstra Australian Swimming Championships in Sydney tonight. Read the full story

Triple Commonwealth Games gold medallist Emily Seebohm has sent a fierce warning to her rivals on Day 2 of the 2011 Telstra Australian Swimming Championships at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, but not necessarily with her heat time this morning. Read the full story