Sam Short Dominates 400m Freestyle at Australian Open Swimming Championships
Sam Short, a Queensland swimmer, delivered a powerful performance in the men’s 400-metre freestyle final at the Australian Open swimming championships on Easter Monday. His time of 3:42.53 was a clear victory over the competition and sent a strong message to his rivals ahead of the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific swimming championships.
Short’s win came against a formidable field, including Elijah Winnington, who secured silver with a time of 3:46.36. New Zealand’s Lewis Clareburt took third place with a time of 3:46.86. Short admitted that he had no intention of leaving anything to chance, stating, “I really just wanted to smash everyone.” This determination is rooted in his background in surf life saving, which has instilled in him a fierce competitive spirit.
“[It’s] just growing up with it,” Short said. “I think a bit of a surf life saving background [helped as well] — just getting in there and having a red-hot crack and not leaving anything to chance.”
The 400m freestyle world record stands at 3:39.96, set by German superstar Lukas Martens last year. Short already held the fastest time of 2026 before his impressive performance on Easter Monday, having clocked 3:43.49 at a TYR Pro Swim Series meet in Westmont, Illinois in early March. His latest achievement, however, was even more significant, as it sent a strong warning to the Japanese trio of Asaki Nishikawa, Tatsuya Murasa, and Kazushi Imafuku, who are expected to challenge him at the Pan Pacs in mid-August.
Short is now considered a short-priced favorite to dethrone Winnington as the 400m freestyle Commonwealth champion at the Glasgow Games, which begin in late July. “There’s been some quick swimmers around the world,” said Short, who won a 400m freestyle world title in Fukuoka, Japan in 2023. “I just really wanna go get that 3:40 or 3:39 again. [Swimming] 3:42 is a good step there — [it’s the] fastest of the season for me so far.”
Making his performance even more impressive was the fact that Short had only recently returned from the US and was still dealing with jet lag. He hadn’t tapered for the championships either, yet he managed to deliver a remarkable swim. “It was pretty good … I’m super happy,” he said. “I knew my speed probably would be lacking a little bit in comparison to my aerobic [work].”
Short is also set to compete in the 800m and 1500m freestyle events at these championships.
Teen Sensation Sienna Toohey Shines Again
Teen sensation Sienna Toohey, a 17-year-old breaststroker from Albury, continued her impressive form on Easter Monday. The young athlete clinched the women’s 100m breaststroke title with a time of 1:06.69. Although this wasn’t her personal best (her best time is 1:06.29), it was another strong indication that she is a rising star in the swimming world.
Toohey, who has broken several junior Australian records previously held by Olympic gold medallist Leisel Jones, made her debut on the senior Dolphins team at just 16 years old. She qualified for the Singapore world championships, marking a significant milestone in her career.
Mollie O’Callaghan’s Masterclass
Olympic champion Mollie O’Callaghan, a 22-year-old from Logan, delivered a standout performance in the women’s 100m freestyle final. She claimed the title with a time of 52.66 seconds, with Dolphins teammates Meg Harris (53.36) and Olivia Wunsch (53.58) finishing second and third respectively.
Kaylee McKeown Crushes 200m Backstroke Final
Kaylee McKeown, a five-time Olympic gold medallist, dominated the women’s 200m backstroke final with a time of 2:05.66. She beat the second-placed Hannah Fredericks by more than three seconds and the third-placed Jenna Forrester by more than five seconds. Despite the margin of victory, McKeown expressed her desire to go faster, as is typical for the high-achieving swimmer.
The 200m backstroke world record, which McKeown holds, is 2:03.14.
Lani Pallister’s Comeback Victory
Lani Pallister, known for her long-distance swimming prowess, delivered a dominant performance in the women’s 800m freestyle final. The daughter of 1988 Olympic swimmer Janelle Pallister (née Elford) won the race in 8:11.28, comfortably ahead of Maria Costa (8:23.98) and Kiwi Erika Fairweather (8:26.55). After crossing the finish line, Pallister famously retreated to spew up her guts, highlighting the physical demands of the event.
Kyle Chalmers Reigns Supreme
This year marks 10 years since an 18-year-old Kyle Chalmers shocked the swimming world with his golden swim at the Rio Olympics. The three-time Olympic medallist continues to prove his dominance, teaching his younger rivals a lesson in the men’s 100m freestyle final. He won the title in 48.39 seconds, with relay buddies Flynn Southam and Kai Taylor finishing second and third in 48.80 and 48.94 respectively.
