[1] Qualification requirements to be included in the Paralympic team is decided upon different classifications based on the degree of impairment an athlete experiences relative to an able-bodied swimmer's speed and performance.

Days before the event, Madeline Groves, a dual silver medallist at the 2016 Summer Olympics withdrew from the trials as "a lesson to all misogynistic perverts in sport".

Groves' withdrawal and comments drew considerable media attention and concerns from Swimming Australia President Kieren Perkins.

[7][8] On June 12 at the start of the trials, Swimming Australia announced that they were setting up an independent panel to investigate issues relating to the experiences of girls and women in the sport.

Grant Hackett, Nicole Livingstone, Annabelle Williams and Giaan Rooney alongside Matt White and Jon Harker were announced as the commentators for Amazon Prime Video on 18 May 2021.