Cate Campbell proved the spark for Australia at the Pan Pacs in Tokyo.
But Dolphins head coach Jacco Verhaeren was confident Australia would be no solo act when they try and take down the world No.1 United States at the 2020 Olympics.
Campbell completed the greatest meet of her 10-year career when she bagged five gold medals at her first competition against the Americans since her Rio meltdown, boosting Australia's four-day tally to eight gold, 12 silver and seven bronze.
They were well short of the impressive US haul of 18 gold, 13 silver and 12 bronze.
However, Verhaeren was talking up the Dolphins' depth before entering the final stage of his plan for Australia to become world No.1 at the Tokyo Olympics, for the first time since 2001.
He conceded Campbell had been the catalyst to their success but believed there were many more who made the US sit up and take notice.
Verhaeren said the true test of a team's depth was in relays - events where Australia comfortably came out on top in Tokyo.
Campbell anchored Australia's 4x100m medley win on the final night in a championship record, ensuring the Dolphins swept all three women's relays.
Australia also claimed the mixed medley final, leaving the US with just two relay wins.
In fact, it took the biggest final day gold rush at a Pan Pacs for the 58-strong US team - almost double the size of Australia's contingent - to finally stamp their authority in Tokyo, pumping out seven wins on the final night.
"She always is the spark to be honest. She is an incredible relay swimmer and athlete," Verhaeren said of Campbell's influence.
"But we could say that of Kyle Chalmers and many others.
"I think the relays were important. Whether we came first or second in the relays they have been very important to make the team what it is now."
Olympic champion Chalmers gained a huge confidence boost by upstaging world champion Caeleb Dressel of the US to claim the 100m freestyle final.
Other highlights included 17-year-old Ariarne Titmus, who laid down the gauntlet to American great Katie Ledecky with 400m freestyle silver.
The Dolphins' traditional "black holes" like men's 200m breaststroke received a shining light with Zac Stubblety-Cook earning silver and Matthew Wilson bronze.
Verhaeren said it showed their new strategy of holding trials five weeks before events and long staging camps that will be mimicked before 2020 was working.
"It is important we can deliver the fights when we can (to the US), that was the most pleasing part that we actually did that here," Verhaeren said.
"Particularly in relays. We are on the right track."
While showing plenty of fight, Verhaeren was not keen on following his predecessor Don Talbot's lead by "declaring war" on the US - a bold move that paid off in 2001.
"We are going to Korea next year (for the world titles) so I am not going to declare war on anyone," Verhaeren said.
Share
