The AFL has poached former Australian swimming champion Nicole Livingstone to become the league's new head of women's football.

The LNP has pledged to introduce an $18 million program to provide free swimming lessons for up to 120,000 of the state's young children.

It's early days for the two sprint champions but their success in Adelaide at the Australian Short Course Championships pave the way for headline races on the Gold Coast next year.

Cate Campbell's sizzling return to the pool made the world take notice once again. But the sprint champion should be just as pleased at her progress outside of the pool, not just on the clock.

Cate Campbell has returned to the pool with a bang clocking a new short course world record in the 100 metres freestyle on the opening night of the Australian Short Course Swimming Championships in Adelaide.

• EXCLUSIVE

While two of her Dolphins team-mates were given 12 months bans, the Rio silver medallist has been cleared to swim on the Gold Coast after succesfully arguing her case with FINA officials.

Cate Campbell wasn't sure if she could ever return to the ceasless grind of following the black line. Now she's back in earnest, preparing for her most important meet since the Olympics, and brandishing a message for those questioning her call to sit out the World Championsions.

Jacco Verhaeren makes no apologies for shaking up the system as Australia tries to become a global power in the pool once more. But, the forthright Dutchman warns, the inherent advantages that gave us a generation of stars are long gone.

Nearly a week into their most recent therapeutic reunion, Michael Phelps and Grant Hackett, two giants of Olympic swimming, sat down to breakfast at a packed restaurant and wondered how they would explain themselves to their children someday.

Nearly a week into their most recent therapeutic reunion, Michael Phelps and Grant Hackett, two giants of Olympic swimming, sat down to breakfast at a packed restaurant and wondered how they would explain themselves to their children someday.

Open water specialist Jarrod Poort has joined Thomas Fraser-Holmes after being banned for 12 months for failing to report his whereabouts for drug tests. Now butterfly star Maddie Groves waits her turn to face the music.

Groves, a silver medallist, has been left in limbo as she waits to face a FINA panel after being issued with a breach for missing a trio of doping tests in a 12-month period.

The Spanish swimming champion held a minute's silence on the blocks for the victims of the terrorist attack.

Annoyed head coach Jacco Verhaeren says it is time James Magnussen pulled his head in and kept his criticism of the Australian swimming team in-house.

• ANALYSIS

Emma McKeon was a shining light but Swimming Australia has some questions to answer.

Emma McKeon has become the first Australian woman to claim six medals at a world swimming championships after the Dolphins added two more bronze on the final day at Budapest.

James Magnussen says he's getting support from Australian swim team members in Budapest after speaking out against relay tactics at the world championships.

Australia's gold drought is finally over at the world swimming championships in Budapest after Emily Seebohm set a new national record to defend her 200m backstroke crown.

Another title defence ended as Australia went without a medal on day six at the world swimming championships in Budapest.