Strong Marks from Sam Short at Pro Series Suggest Big Season Ahead for Aussie Star
On four occasions, Sam Short has stood on the podium at the World Championships to receive recognition for his individual distance-freestyle efforts. Three medals were earned by the Australian at the 2023 edition of the World Champs, including gold in the 400-meter freestyle. At last summer’s Worlds, Short was the silver medalist in the 400 free, finishing behind only Olympic champion and world-record holder Lukas Martens of Germany.
This year, Short could have two opportunities to excel on the international stage, with Australia slated to send squads to the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Championships. Whether Short opts to compete in both meets or focuses on one competition remains to be seen. Whichever path he chooses, the 22-year-old appears headed for a big year.
Last week, Short was one of the top performers at the latest leg of the USA Swimming Pro Series. Racing in Westmont (Ill.), Short claimed a trio of titles – prevailing in the 400 freestyle, 800 freestyle and 1500 freestyle. All three victories were secured with impressive times, although his outings in the 400 free and 800 free shined brightest.
Short opened his appearance in Westmont with a dominant triumph in the 800 freestyle, where he touched the wall in 7:40.98. That effort established a Pro Series record and was not far off the U.S. Open standard of 7:40.34, set by Bobby Finke in 2023. Short followed up his win over 16 laps with another convincing victory in the 1500 freestyle, this time with a mark of 14:52.33. In both distance events, Finke was the runnerup.
What Short produced in the 400 freestyle on the final night of action might have been his finest swim of the meet. Short again broke a Pro Series record and just missed the U.S. Open standard, thanks to a time of 3:43.49. The Aussie was nearly three seconds clear of Belgium’s Lucas Henveaux (3:46.40), the runnerup.
During his career, Short has demonstrated world-class form and consistency from the 400 distance through the 1500, and his early-season performances suggest personal-best marks could be on the horizon. All of Short’s top times are from the 2023 World Champs in Fukuoka, where he was 3:40.68 in the 400, 7:37.76 in the 800 and 14:37.28 in the 1500.
Because the 2026 campaign does not feature a global-championship meet, Short will not have the chance to race Martens in international competition this year. However, the months ahead will surely include scoreboard watching around the world, and Short has fired early warning shots to the distance-freestyle community. Among the possibilities for Short is joining Martens in the sub-3:40 club in the 400 freestyle.
Around the world, athletes find themselves at various points in their training. Short was clearly in strong form in Westmont, and the potential for career-defining performances at Commonwealths or Pan Pacs – perhaps both – are within reach.
