Airdate: 16th FINA World Swimming Championships

Wide World of Sports tonight screens the 16th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) on Nine.

From December 13-18, the best swimmers in the world will converge on Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre to go toe-to-toe against the Australian Dolphins.

Commentators poolside are Ian Thorpe, Ariarne Titmus and Giaan Rooney joined by Wide World of Sports commentator Mat Thompson to call the races live, with Tony Jones and Seb Costello hosting.

Ian Thorpe said: “We have multiple Aussie Olympic champions swimming in the short course in Melbourne with Kyle Chalmers, Kaylee McKeown, Emma McKeon and Mack Horton. It’s exciting that they’ll all be competing.

“There’s been a period of transition with our younger stars coming in, such as Mollie O’Callaghan, which has made it more intense for positions on the team and ultimately elevates the standard right across the squad.

“This will be an intense competition made more interesting because the format suits athletes with different physiques compared to those that win in the traditional 50m pool. There’s a lot more focus on the starts and the turns, which will make for blistering times.”