It's official - Australian swimming has got its mojo back.
But national coach Jacco Verhaeren has balked at making any Rio medal predictions despite an amazing Olympic trials in Adelaide.
Verhaeren could not hide his excitement after emerging from a 34-strong Rio squad boasting 10 No.1 ranked swimmers and 26 in the world's top three.
And that doesn't include dual world champion James Magnussen, London Olympian James Roberts and sprinter Matt Abood - who will be added once their 4x100m freestyle relay team's entry is confirmed by the May 31 deadline.
"I think swimming has got its mojo back which is a great thing," Verhaeren said.
Cameron McEvoy was the standout, becoming the first man to claim the freestyle triple crown.
Cate Campbell also impressed, just falling short of world records while claiming the 50m-100m double.
Yet Verhaeren wasn't getting ahead of himself.
Told that their trial form indicated they were on track to claim 26 medals and 10 gold at Rio, Verhaeren laughed: "That would be fantastic wouldn't it?
"But rankings going into an Olympics don't mean much.
"What it means is that you are competitive.
Dutch legend Verhaeren was hired as national coach after the "toxic" London campaign earned one relay gold - Australia's worst tally in an Olympic pool in 20 years.
His goal was to ensure Australia were swimming's world No.1 by the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The last time they had enjoyed top billing was 2001.
Verhaeren is years ahead of schedule after Australia fell one gold medal short of overhauling the United States for No.1 at the 2015 world titles in Russia.
The great Dawn Fraser made the bold call in Adelaide that Australia's Rio pool tally may surpass the country's greatest ever - that of the all conquering 1956 Olympic swimming team.
Fraser won the first of three straight 100m freestyle Olympic titles in 1956.
It helped Australia nab a remarkable Melbourne haul of eight gold, four silver and two bronze.
Sixty years later, it is still Australia's most successful Olympic swimming campaign.
On paper Australia are set to repeat the heroics of Melbourne where they won every freestyle event.
In what is believed to be the first time in 50 years, Australia have at least one medal contender in every men's and women's freestyle event.
But Verhaeren said: "The job now is to keep everyone relaxed and make sure they do the job.
"We will never talk about medals or records."
Verhaeren did concede that the team atmosphere had at least changed since London.
"I am hearing that it is the same feeling as around 2000, 2004 - I take that as a compliment," he said.
The team's oldest member - 28 year old triple-Olympian Alicia Coutts - saw the London debacle first hand.
"I think we have come a long way since London," she said.
"It's nice to see that camaraderie around the pool."
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