Sam Short claims 1500m freestyle title, nears Grant Hackett’s record, suggests clean sweep at Glasgow Commonwealth Games
Sam Short has spoken of the possibility of a clean sweep for Australia in the men’s 1500m freestyle at next month’s Commonwealth Games and admitted he can’t resist the idea of treating himself to a pizza before he approaches Grant Hackett’s legendary Australian record and is paired with one of swimming’s greats.
On the penultimate night of Australia’s swimming trials in Sydney, ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, Mollie O’Callaghan competed in the women’s 100m freestyle while Shayna Jack booked her ticket on the Dolphins team alongside her brother Jamie after finishing a hard-fought third in the qualifying time.
But Short saved the best part of the night for last, with a moderate crowd at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatics Center humming with anticipation as he launched a daring attack on Bobby Finke’s world record of 14:30.67.
The excitement increased with each lap as Short reached 2.65 seconds under the world record speed in the half of the race.
Considering Short had won the 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle titles earlier in the week, it was a bold and fearless attempt to eclipse Hackett’s world record in an event where she clocked a life-best 14:34.56.
But after a grueling weekend, he caught Short and touched the wall in 14:42.09. It was 4.81 seconds off Short’s personal best, which he set at the 2023 world championships in Fukuoka.
Matt Galea (14:50.22) and Ben Goedemans (14:50.67) also narrowly undershot the qualifying time of 14:51.06 – ensuring all three Australians qualify for the event in Glasgow – and sent coach Dean Boxall spinning around on the pool deck as they celebrated wildly, though not with the same enthusiasm that Ariarne Titmus displayed when she won Olympic gold in Tokyo.
Short said on Channel Nine he felt Australia could win gold, silver and bronze at the event in Scotland.
“The biggest rival was Ireland’s Dan Wiffen and he went 14:51 in his trials and he couldn’t have brought this team here,” Short said later. “This is a great reflection of where our country is and the few years we will spend in Los Angeles. [Olympics] It’s also…exciting.
“Last 500 [metres] to hurt It’s the fastest I’ve ever gone domestically.”
Short joined Hackett as the only Australian men to complete the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle race at the same national championships, and revealed he started thinking about his cheat meal long before his arms and legs started burning.
“I was thinking about pizza before,” Short said. “I wanted one in the last 500 meters. I don’t drink coffee or caffeine on weekdays. I really like it when it hits me.” [by taking gels]. When I have it, I feel like I’m ready to walk through a brick wall.
“I’m pretty sure [Hackett] He won the 1500 on the international stage 11 years in a row, that’s crazy. “It is an honor to be in the same sentence with him.”
When asked if there was a world record he’d like to break, Short said: “400 freestyle. I’m really training my ass off for that. I know I’ll get two more really good opportunities this year. 3:39, I’m dreaming of that.”
On Friday night, Jack shed tears as he hugged his brother by the warm-up pool after making his third Commonwealth Games team appearance. While Jamie had already been selected for the first Dolphins team in the 50m freestyle, Jack was overcome with emotion after fulfilling his end of the bargain.
“I wanted that dream for him too,” Shayna said.
“Our family is very talented. We always reach for the stars, that’s for sure. To achieve these dreams is really special. To be able to make the team with my brother is really special.
“I was so proud of myself to be here today. We lost a beautiful girl. [Jemma Stapleton] Graduating from Victoria athletics today due to an accident overseas and seeing things like Jai Arrow and what he and his family are going through puts it all into perspective.
O’Callaghan said of his victory: “I’m always looking for improvement and I’m happy with that. It’s a stepping stone to Los Angeles.”
Zac Stubblety-Cook (2:08.92) and Ella Ramsay (2:24.04) also won their respective 200m breaststroke finals after breaking away from Griffith earlier this year.
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Tom Decent is chief sports writer for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect with: X or email.
