ADELAIDE: A 20-year-old from Brisbane joined an exclusive club headlined by Ian Thorpe to pave his way to the world championships and announce himself as a rising star of Australian swimming on Tuesday night.
Edward Sommerville won the men’s 200-metre freestyle final in 1:44.93 at the national trials, announcing himself as a budding talent on a night already set abuzz by 16-year-old Sienna Toohey.
Sommerville beat three of the four men who teamed up to win Olympic bronze in the 4x200m freestyle relay in Paris last year, powering away from Max Giuliani, Flynn Southam and Elijah Winnington.
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And in stopping the clock at 1:44.93, he became just the fourth Australian ever to shatter the 1:45.00 barrier in the 200m freestyle.
The four men now occupying that special club are Thorpe, Clyde Lewis, Giuliani and Sommerville.
Watch the 2025 Australian swimming trials live and free on Nine and 9Now, taking place from June 9-14.
Edward Sommerville celebrates his win in the men’s 200m freestyle. Delly Carr/Swimming Australia
Thorpe, whose 1:44.06 personal best remains the national record 24 years after it was set, was commentating for Nine on Sommerville’s race on Tuesday night.
“He has great stroke,” said the five-time Olympic gold medallist.
“Comes over the top of the water, the catch there, slight pause, tightening towards the finish.”
Sommerville made his senior Australian debut in December at Budapest’s world short-course championships, where he combined with Giuliani, Winnington and Harrison Turner to win silver in the 4x200m freestyle.
At the Singapore world titles, taking place between July 28 and August 4, the Queenslander will compete for the first time at a senior global long-course championships.
Left to right: Elijah Winnington, Harrison Turner, Edward Sommerville and Max Giuliani with their silver medals in Budapest. Getty
Sam Short finished second on Tuesday night in 1:45.71, while Southam took third in 1:45.85.
Sommerville’s personal best at the start of the day was 1:47.54. He shot through his heat in 1:46.02, and his 1:44.93 in the final followed.
“It just makes me want to stay on top even more,” Sommerville said of winning in a hot field.
“I’ve worked hard to get here but I’ve still got a way to, so I’ll just keep working on hard.”
Cate Campbell said what many were thinking as Sommerville hopped out of the pool.
“You have well and truly announced your arrival,” Campbell stated, before interviewing the youngster on Nine on the pool deck.
“I think it’s just a combination of everyone in my support crew’s hard work, like parents, siblings, coach, physios,” Sommerville said.
“I’m glad to show what I can do.”
