US and Australian swim champs set for Dubai showdown

DUBAI - Swimming powerhouses United States and Australia have both sent talent-packed teams to take part in the 10th World Short Course Championships which will take place in the desert setting of Dubai from Wednesday until Sunday.

Michael Phelps will not be gracing the pool at the state-of-the-art Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Sports Complex this week but the likes of America's Ryan Lochte, Brazil's Cesar Cielo and Sweden's Therese Alshammar are sure to keep things interesting.

With more than 140 nations and regions competing at these championships, leading the medal charge will be a strong US line-up, which includes 20 Olympians such as Lochte, Nathan Adrian, Natalie Coughlin and Aaron Piersol.