James Roberts (swimmer)

At the 2011 Australian Swimming 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. In the 100-meter freestyle, Roberts did not advance past the semifinals, and finished 10th overall with a time of 48.49.

At the 2012 Australian Swimming 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. 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.