James Roberts (swimmer)

James Roberts
Personal information
Full nameJames Roberts
Nickname
Rocket
National team Australia
Born (1991-04-11) 11 April 1991
Tweed Heads, New South Wales
Height1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight90 kg (198 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle
ClubSomerset
CoachJohn Fowlie
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing  Australia
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Rio de Janeiro 4×100 m freestyle
World Championships (LC)
Gold medal – first place 2011 Shanghai 4×100 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2011 Shanghai 4×100 m medley
Oceania Championships
Gold medal – first place 2010 Apia 50 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2010 Apia 4×100 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2010 Apia 100 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2010 Apia 50 m butterfly
Pan Pacific Championships
Silver medal – second place 2018 Tokyo 4×100 m freestyle
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2018 Gold Coast 4×100 m freestyle

James Roberts (born 11 April 1991) is a retired Australian swimmer.[1] He is a two-time medalist at the World Championships (one gold, one silver), and represented Australia at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Career

At the 2011 Australian Championships, Roberts qualified for the national team by placing second behind James Magnussen in the 100-metre freestyle in a time of 48.72 seconds. At the 2011 World Aquatics Championships, Roberts won a total of two medals, one gold and one silver. Roberts earned both of his medals by swimming in the heats of the 4×100-metre freestyle and medley relay.[2][3] In the 100-meter freestyle, Roberts did not advance past the semifinals, and finished 10th overall with a time of 48.49.[4]

At the 2012 Australian Championships, which also served as Australia's Olympic trials, Roberts qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics by placing second in the 100-metre freestyle. In the 100-metre freestyle final, Roberts recorded a personal best of 47.63 seconds, finishing behind James Magnussen who won in 47.10.[5] In the 50-meter freestyle final, Roberts placed 4th in 22.31.

In his first event at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, the 4×100-metre freestyle relay, Roberts swam the anchor leg in a time of 48.09. The Australian team, although the favorites, failed to medal and placed fourth in the final with a time of 3:11.63. Roberts also swam in the heats of the 4×100-metre freestyle relay and recorded a time of 48.22 as the second leg. After recording a time of 48.93 in the heats of the 100-metre freestyle, Roberts failed to advance to the final, posting a time of 48.57 in the semifinals. As a result of illness, Roberts was left off the 4×100-metre medley relay in the heats.

At the 2016 Australian Championships, Roberts finished third in the 100-metre freestyle in a time of 48.32.[6] This did not automatically qualify him for the 4×100-metre freestyle relay, as Australia had finished outside the top 12 at the 2015 World Championships. Because 4 additional berths were yet to be allocated to the fastest non-qualified nations from 1 March 2015 to 31 May 2016, Swimming Australia ensured qualification by organising a time trial. Australia posted a time of 3:12.26, with Roberts recording 48.63 on the first leg. This placed Australia first among the non-qualified nations, remaining so at the end of the qualifying period.[7] Roberts was subsequently named to the Olympic team on 7 June 2016.[8]

At the 2016 Olympic Games, Roberts competed in the 4×100-metre freestyle relay, splitting 48.88 on the first leg. Australia won the bronze medal in a time of 3:11.37.[9]

In December 2021, Roberts announced his retirement from swimming at the age of 30.[1]

Personal bests

As of 19 March 2012.
Event Time Venue Date
100 m freestyle (long course) 47.63 Adelaide 19 March 2012

References

  1. ^ a b Retta Race (31 December 2021). "Aussie Sprinter James Roberts Announces Retirement". SwimSwam. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  2. ^ "2011 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 4x100 metre freestyle relay (heats)" (PDF). Omega Timing. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  3. ^ "2011 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 4x100 metre medley relay (heats)" (PDF). Omega Timing. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  4. ^ "2011 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 100 metre freestyle (semifinals)" (PDF). Omega Timing. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  5. ^ "Australian Olympic Trials: James Magnussen Drops Textile Best; Many Paralympic World Records". Swimming World Magazine. 19 March 2012. Archived from the original on 29 March 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  6. ^ "Day 4 Results" (PDF). Swimming World. 11 April 2016. p. 8. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  7. ^ Braden Keith (14 April 2016). "Australia Ensures Olympic Bid in 400 Free Relay With Time Trial Swim". SwimSwam. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  8. ^ Kearney, Annie (7 June 2016). "Relay spot confirmed for Roberts, Magnussen and Abood". AOC. Archived from the original on 13 July 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  9. ^ Jeffery, Nicole (8 August 2016). "Rio Olympics 2016 swimming: Australia win bronze in men's 4x100m freestyle relay". The Australian. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
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