Three standout athletes from the South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) – Matt Temple, Brittany Castelluzzo, and Rowan Crothers – have earned selection to represent Australia at the 2025 World Championships to be held in Singapore.
Their selection follows a week of world-class performances at the 2025 Australian Swimming Trials, hosted at their home venue the SA Aquatic & Leisure Centre (SAALC).
Olympian Matt Temple lived up to his billing as the nation’s top butterfly swimmer, delivering an electric swim in the Men’s 100m Butterfly. With the advantage of racing in his home pool, Temple clocked a blistering 51.00 seconds, narrowly edging out Jesse Coleman (51.09) and Ben Armbruster, with all three dipping under the qualifying time.
“I think it’s awesome swimming here – a home pool advantage,” Temple said after his swim.
“SAALC is one of the best pools in the country so to swim here and be in my home pool – you can’t get much better than that.”
Temple will now look to translate his home-pool success into international form in Singapore.
In what was one of the loudest and most emotional moments of the meet, Brittany Castelluzzo stormed home in the Women’s 200m Butterfly to earn her maiden long-course gold cap.
The Tea Tree Gully swimmer touched in at 2:06.91, securing her place on the Dolphins squad alongside Abbey Connor (2:07.14).
Castelluzzo’s performance was a testament to her perseverance and the strength of the SASI development pathway, marking a huge milestone in her swimming journey.
Rowan Crothers will bring experience and firepower to the team as he prepares for his sixth World Aquatics Championships.
Now based in South Australia, Crothers posted the fastest times of the year in the 50m and 100m Freestyle (S10), earning a well-deserved place on the national team.
Crothers said he hoped his performance inspires the next generation of potential Paralympic swimmers.
“I think it’s really important to see more visibility of elite performers with disability in sport,” Crothers shared.
“A lot of the time when I was growing up with disability, I was always told by teachers, doctors and specialists all about the things that I can’t do.
“But what Paralympic sport and national trials like this do is show those kids what we can do – if we stop looking at limitations and start trying to maximise what we can do with our bodies and our minds as well.”
Adding to the South Australian presence, SASI coaches Craig Stewart and Kate Sparkes have also been named in the Australian coaching staff for the Championships, reflecting SASI’s strength in both athlete and coaching development.
With a blend of experience, emerging talent, and world-class coaching, South Australia is set to be strongly represented on the world stage.
The 2025 World Aquatics Championships will take place 27 July - 3 August and the World Para Swimming Championships will be held 21 - 27 September - the countdown to Singapore is on and SASI is ready!
