"You know, last year is last year and this is a new season," said Anthony Nesty, the 1988 Olympic gold medallist in the 100m butterfly for Suriname, who will serve as head coach of the US men's team in Paris. "We feel pretty confident," he said. 

There's certainly reason to be happy. The redemption of Caeleb Dressel, who has regained his place among the greats after a period away from swimming, and the resurgence of stars such as Regan Smith, give confidence that the USA can go all the way. 

The potential of the ever-impressive Katie Ledecky, who could become the only woman to win gold in the same event (800m freestyle) at four consecutive Olympics, suggests that the USA could maintain their supremacy in the Olympic pool in Paris, where a formidable Australian team awaits.

The results are still fresh from the intense nine days of the US trials, which attracted more than 20,000 spectators to Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. They concluded on Sunday and, after Australia topped the medal table at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, produced a team of 46 swimmers eager to reassert US dominance in the pool

Smith cemented her return in the best possible way, having broken world records in the 100m and 200m backstroke as a teenager in 2019, but settling for silver and bronze in Tokyo. Smith set a world record of 57.13 seconds in the 100m backstroke. She then added the 200m backstroke and 200m butterfly to her programme for Paris. 

Smith shaved two-tenths of a second off the 100m backstroke world record set by Kaylee McKeown last year, setting up a thrilling showdown with the Australian in Paris. The duel is set. The American and the Australian will meet in Paris in 2024 with gold on the line.

Another pleasant surprise was Gretchen Walsh, who broke the world record in the 100m butterfly on her way to her first Olympic appearance. She also booked her place in the 50m freestyle with a second-place finish behind another veteran on the comeback trail: Simone Manuel.

Other Olympic veterans heading to Paris include reigning men's 800m and 1500m freestyle champion Bobby Finke, Rio 2016 backstroke double gold medallist Ryan Murphy, breaststroker Lilly King and, of course, Ledecky. However, what Paris 2024 is setting up is a battle between Ledecky and Titmus. 

Ledecky qualified in the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle. Perfectly. It is expected that she will drop out of the 200m individual to concentrate not only on winning a fourth consecutive gold medal in the 800m freestyle and another crown in the 1500m, but also on regaining her crown in the 400m freestyle.

However, Ledecky must not forget that Australia's Ariarne Titmus surprised her in the 400m in Tokyo. Titmus holds the world record and has the second fastest time of all time this month. Both she and Ledecky will also have to watch out for Canadian teenager Summer McIntosh.

Crashing the Olympics as a teenager is becoming a habit. Eight teenagers have made the team, including brother-sister duo Aaron and Alex Shackell and 17-year-old Thomas Heilman, the youngest US swimmer to make an Olympic team since 15-year-old Michael Phelps and 17-year-old Aaron Peirsol in Sydney.

It is not just the USA and Australia that will be fighting for medals; other countries with swimmers who could surprise include China, Canada, Great Britain and hosts France, but always with the permission of the Australians, who have caught the eye of US swimmers after 2023. NBC stoked the rivalry by quoting Australian Cate Campbell calling the Americans "sore losers" after Fukuoka and boasting that it was "so much sweeter to beat America".

The almighty Michael Phelps, 23-time Olympic gold medallist, responded, "The good news is the Olympics will be here soon and we'll have a chance to have a look at what the results are."