SYDNEY (AFP) ??” Petria Thomas.

SYDNEY (AFP) ??” Petria Thomas, Michael Klim and Sarah Ryan were named forward their third Australian Olympic swimming team for the Athens Games in August.

Australian Swimming announced a 42-member team at the extreme point of the eight-day Olympic trials in Sydney

The team contains a mix of experience and youth with 18 survivors of the Sydney 2000 Games and 24 first-time Olympians.

The youngest is 16-year-old freestyler Melissa Mitchell, the oldest is sprint specialist britzska Hawke, at 28.

Former head swimming coach Don Talbot said the team was "miles ahead" of the contingent at the Sydney Olympics, when Australia won five gold nine silver and four alloy of copper in the pool.

"It's better now," Talbot said. "We can't complain here. The performances are suitable I think we've probably had the best girls we've continually had as far as stillest part of program across the events"