Swimming Australia has announced the return of one of swimming’s biggest rivalries, the Duel in the Pool, with Sydney set to host the event.

The event will see Australia and the US face off in the re-imagined competition, with both countries selecting 30 Olympic, Paralympic and national team athletes to contest in pool events at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre and an open water component at Bondi Beach.

The event will also showcase innovation in and out of the pool, with new race and relay formats, an innovative broadcast overlay with insights that power the sport, and fan engagement activations incorporating lighting and AR to bring the entertainment to life.

Commenting on the event, Swimming Australia CEO, Eugénie Buckley, said: “Whether it’s the 4x100m relay in Sydney, or the women’s 400m freestyle from Tokyo, both our past and present are dominated by contests between our two great swimming nations that have defined their respective generations.”

“Reigniting the Duel in the Pool will enable us to showcase the best athletes in the world through a format that will bring fans closer to the action and engage the viewing audience like never before, all while adding to the great legacy between our two countries in the pool.

“We are fortunate to work with our partners at Destination NSW to host this innovative event in the great city of Sydney and we look forward to welcoming USA Swimming for a meet unlike any other,” she said.

New South Wales Minister for Tourism and Sport, Stuart Ayres, added: “Sydney is renowned for hosting the best international sporting events that capture the world’s attention, so I am delighted we are bringing Duel in the Pool back to the Harbour City for the first time since 2007.”

“Australia and USA are the two titans of world swimming with a great historic rivalry, so this is going to be an absolutely enthralling battle for supremacy in the pool watched by millions of people on both sides of the Pacific.

“The NSW Government is committed to delivering world-class events like Duel in the Pool to achieve our goal making Sydney and NSW the events capital and premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific,” he said.

The announcement comes after Swimming Australia announced three-time Olympic gold medallist, Tracy Stockwell, as the new president of the governing body.