Australian Olympic swimmers Bronte Barratt and Hayden Stoeckel have joined the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Swimming program in Canberra.

Barratt was a member of the Australian 4 x 200-metre freestyle relay team that won gold in world record time at last year’s Olympic Games in Beijing. In 2007 she broke Tracey Wickham’s 29-year record for the 400-metre freestyle — the longest standing Australian women’s record.

Stoeckel won silver in the 4 x 100-metre medley and bronze in the 100-metre backstroke at the Beijing Olympics. The 25-year-old also won silver in the 100-metre and 200-metre backstroke at this year’s Australian championships.

Barratt will be coached by Tracey Menzies at the AIS, who also coached the legendary Ian Thorpe to six gold medals at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Stoeckel will link up with John Fowlie, whose stable of swimmers includes the likes of Felicity Galvez, Alicia Coutts, Ben Treffers and Tommaso D’Orsogna.

AIS Swimming head coach Shannon Rollason said he was delighted that two of Australia’s top swimmers had decided to join the Institute’s renowned program.

‘The AIS is regarded throughout the world as being at the forefront of elite athlete development and the Institute’s swim program is testament to that reputation,’ Rollason said.

‘Both Bronte and Hayden will have access to the world’s best in technology and assistance to help them reach their potential. Their international experience will also be good for the promising young swimmers that we have coming through our ranks.’

Eleven of 14 AIS swimmers won medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.