Swimming Australia and Channel 9 Launch Team-Based Swim GP Format in Melbourne Ahead of 2032 Olympics

Swimming Australia has partnered with media powerhouse Channel 9 to launch Swim GP, a team-based entertainment format designed to commercialise elite swimming ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Scheduled for 13 and 14 November 2026 at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC), the event will pit four teams of twenty Australian Dolphins against each other across short-form, high-energy sessions.

Supported by the Victorian Government, which has also locked in backing for the 2028 Australian Short Course Championships, the initiative aims to capitalise on surging public interest following last year’s Australia v The World event, blending competitive racing with fan-centric innovations like bonus points, coaches’ calls, and live audience voting.

The commercial push is designed to elevate athlete profiles and drive broadcasting revenues through Nine’s network.

Emphasising the long-term vision behind the new property, Swimming Australia CEO, Rob Woodhouse, said: “Swim GP is an next exciting step in our planning ahead of 2032 to engage swimming fans in the theatre and entertainment of our sport.”

“We saw the support off the back of Australia v The World last year, and we know swimming fans love seeing our athletes compete.

“Building this platform with our partner Nine, we want every household in Australia to know the names of our Dolphins as we lead into 2032 and events like Swim GP allow us to create that platform, for both branding and commercial success.

“We’re thankful for the support of the Victorian Government to deliver this event for the first time, and excited to bring this to swimming and sports fans in Melbourne,” Woodhouse said.

Highlighting the necessity of shifting towards modern entertainment models, Dolphin Zac Stubblety-Cook “It’s great that the sport is trying new avenues and we’re excited to see what this means for swimming leading into 2032, it’s important to get a home crowd invested in the sport of swimming.”

“And fandom is central to this. We also want to be part of something that creates FOMO … and heated rivalries. We have some of the best swimmers in the world, and I don’t think the Australian public fully realise just how good this Dolphins team is.

“We want them to join us on the journey to 2032 … and this is just the start,” he said.

The event will feature elite coaching leadership from Dean Boxall, Damian Jones, Mel Marshall, and Craig Jackson, while showcasing marquee names such as Olympic gold medallists Mollie O’Callaghan, Cam McEvoy, and Lani Pallister alongside Paralympic champions Tim Hodge and Lakeisha Patterson.

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