SWIMMING: The Australian Dolphins Swim Team has arrived in Perth and has quickly settled into training ahead of the Perth Aquatic Super Series at HBF Stadium this Friday and Saturday.

The 24-strong team has been buoyed by the addition of new team members and the recent announcement of dual backstroke world champion, Mitch Larkin who was named FINA Male Swimmer of the Year for 2015 and are looking forward to racing some quality competition from China and Japan.

Larkin will line up in his pet events, the 100 and 200 metres backstroke as well as the medley relay.

The Dolphins will also feature fellow Kazan world champions, Emily Seebohm and Bronte Campbell and will see the return of James Magnussen, who will line up with fellow freestyle sprint star, world championship silver medallist Cam McEvoy in the 50 and 100m freestyle.

The Chinese team have made some late changes to their line up with dual Olympic champion from London, Sun Yang, and female team mate Xu Danlu forced to withdraw from this week’s Perth Aquatic Super Series, due to injury.

The Chinese Swimming Federation informed Swimming Australia and the PASS organisers that the pair had “suffered sudden injuries and would not be able to participate in the competition as scheduled.”

Sun, who won gold in the 400 and 1500m freestyle in world record time in 2012, is the reigning 400 and 800m freestyle world champion.

He has been replaced in the team by Hou Yujie, while Xu has been replaced by Zhang Jiaqi.

The two-day heats and finals team-based competition gets under way on Friday, February 5 and concludes on Saturday, February 6 at Perth’s HBF Stadium.

Tickets available through Ticketmaster: http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/Aquatic-Super-Series-tickets/artist/1799259

Swimming Australia