Swimming: Young Kiwis hope to set 'team culture' towards Tokyo Olympics

Daniel Hunter after the 50m freestyle final at the 2017 New Zealand Open Swimming Championships. Photo/Photosport

Team culture is not something usually associated with individual sports, but that's where NZ Swimming is pitching its expectations for the squad heading to this week's world championships at Budapest.

Without Rio Olympic veterans Lauren Boyle (injured) and Glenn Snyders (retired) in the mix, medal or finals expectations are generally low for the young Kiwis, but without those old heads, this is viewed as a perfect opportunity to build towards the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Nine swimmers achieved individual qualification for these championships, the most since 2005, so the depth is there, if not the quality at this stage. Before the withdrawal of 29-year-old Boyle, the average age was 21 - it's now slightly less.

"We're just going to work off the excitement of all these young kids making the team for the first time and a few veterans, keep it relaxed, try to have fun and swim fast," says Swimming NZ head coach Jerry Olszewski.

"We've been in the process of creating a new culture. Teamwork is vital ... a work-oriented culture, positive environment and working together as a team, starting practice together, going to the weightroom together, starting sets together ... all those things have been incorporated since I got here and were missing prior to my arrival."

If you don't think culture is important in swimming, ask the Aussies, whose high expectations for the 2012 London Olympics were dashed, after theirs let them down.

"There will be some small things that we work on to promote that, from small things like wearing the same shirt to a session to making sure we're cheering for each other," insists Olscewski, brought on board after Rio to prepare the next wave of Kiwi swimmers.

"All the kids don't swim together, so doing all those small things really sets the tone for the team."

One of those kids is freestyle exponent Daniel Hunter, who set national records over both 50 metres (22.31sec) and 100 metres (49.43sec) last year.

He attended the world short course championships in December, ranking 15th over the shorter distance and 23rd in the longer event, but regards this as his first real test at international level.

"Short course if more a social event, not as competitive as long course, where you really find out who the best swimmers are," he offers.

"It's awesome to see sprinters like me and Sam [Perry] coming through at a younger age and it will be exciting to see what the next few years hold for our development up to Tokyo."

Rio performers Matt Stanley and Corey Main will combine with Hunter and Perry for the 4x100m freestyle relay on opening day of the championships, an opportunity for two senior members of this young team to set the tone early.

"It's the first time for quite a while that we've had a freestyle team and to have that as the first event will be a good chance for Matt and Corey to show us what need to provide," says Hunter.

"For me, it's a pretty big focus. Looking at the criteria for next year's Commonwealth Games, it's one of our best chances to qualify ... we've got a pretty decent shot at doing something good."

Hunter's specialty event - the 50 m freestyle, otherwise known as the "Big Splash" - offers such a small margin of error, he fancies his chances of punching above his ranking.

"It can be so variable, you get one thing wrong at the start and you're behind from the start ... you get one thing wrong at the finish, people overtake you in the last few metres.

"Top 16 is a realistic expectation, but I will be pushing for top eight and once you're in the final of the 50 free, anything can happen."

The New Zealand team for Budapest, July 14-30, are:
Bradlee Ashby - 200m individual medley
Gabrielle Fa'amausili - 50m freestyle & medley relay
Helena Gasson - 50m butterfly, 200m individual medley & medley relay
Bobbi Gichard - medley relay
Daniel Hunter - 50m freestyle & 4x100m freestyle relay
Natasha Lloyd - medley relay
Corey Main - 200m backstroke & 4x100m freestyle relay
Sam Perry - 50m freestyle & 4x100m freestyle relay
Emma Robinson - 800m & 1500m freestyle
Matthew Stanley - 200m freestyle & 4x100m freestyle relay
Charlotte Webby - open water