Sam Short Unleashes Second-Fastest Time of Year to Win Men’s 400 Freestyle at Australian Open
Former World Champion Sam Short has unleashed the world’s second fastest time of the year to sink the men’s 400m freestyle field on the opening night of the 2026 Australian Open on the Gold Coast tonight. With Short’s time of 3:42.53 (52.87, 1:48.40, 2:45.26) coming just a week after arriving back in Brisbane from a high-altitude training camp in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Short now sitting behind China’s Zhang Zhanshou (3:41.55) and moving ahead of Germany’s world record holder Lukas Martens (3:43.04) on the rankings as he sets up his big year of racing for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Pan Pacs in Irvine, California.
The boy from Rackley, QLD charging to the front from the get-go and he was never headed in an impressive showing, saying his recent racing and training stint in the US has been a huge fillip.
“I only got off the plane a week ago so I’m pretty happy with that and I am now keen for the 800 and 1500m (over the next two days) to be honest,” said Short.
“I feel so fit (this morning’s heat swim) was the easiest 3:48 I’ve ever done.
“And I couldn’t sit still today, I was so excited to get in there and give it a crack and I can’t wait to do some pace work and (to really) swim fast.
“I went 7:40.98 (the fastest time in the world) in Chicago (at the TYR Pro Series) two days after getting off a plane (so) with an extra week, I’m ready to give it a red-hot crack.”
Another world champion and Paris silver medallist Elijah Winnington (St Peters Western, QLD) finished second in 3:45.36 just a week after splitting open the bridge of his nose in a training accident – Winnington swimming into a lane rope.
New Zealander Lewis Clareburt, who is training with the Nunawading Swimming Club in Victoria, finished third in 3:46.86 – a huge boost for his 400IM later in the meet.
In other events, two-time world champion Mollie O’Callaghan (St Peters Western, QLD) also swam the second fastest time of the year in an emphatic victory in the women’s 100m freestyle, clocking a sizzling 52.66 – beating home world 50m champion Meg Harris (Rackley, QLD) 53.36, with Olivia Wunsch (Carlile, NSW) 53.58 third and Shayna Jack (St Peters Western, QLD) fourth in 53.92. Mollie O’Callaghan, Kyle Chalmers, Kai Taylor, Flynn Southam, Kaylee McKeown, Olivia Wunsch , Shayna Jack, Kaylee McKeown,
While 27-year-old triple Olympic medallist and 2016 Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers (Marion, SA) continuing his 100m reign, coming from behind to take the title in 48.39 from Flynn Southam (Bond, QLD) 48.80 and Kai Taylor (St Peters Western, QLD) third in 48.94.
And dual double Olympic champion Kaylee McKeown (USC Spartans, QLD) produced a strong final 50m to maintain her second spot on the world rankings in 2:05.66 (29.52, 1:02.23, 1:34.05) – home in 1:03.43 (31.82,31.61 – continuing her unbeaten record as the queen of world backstroking.
