Sam Short has declared Australia can win gold, silver and bronze in the men's 1500m freestyle at next month's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow — and he did it while thinking about pizza.
On Friday night at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, Short launched a daring assault on Bobby Finke's world record of 14:30.67. He was 2.65 seconds under world record pace at the halfway mark. But a tiring week caught up with him. He touched the wall in 14:42.09 — 4.81 seconds outside his personal best from the 2023 world championships.
Still, it was enough to join Grant Hackett as the only Australian male to sweep the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle titles at the same national championships. Short admitted his mind was elsewhere during the gruelling race.
“I was thinking pizza beforehand. The last 500 metres I wanted one.”
Short said he doesn't drink coffee or caffeine during the week, relying on gels instead. “When I have it, I feel like I'm ready to run through a brick wall.”
Matt Galea (14:50.22) and Ben Goedemans (14:50.67) also went under the qualifying time of 14:51.06, meaning all three Australians will contest the event in Glasgow. Coach Dean Boxall celebrated wildly on pool deck — though not quite with the same energy he showed when Ariarne Titmus won Olympic gold in Tokyo.
Short pointed to Ireland's Dan Wiffen as the biggest international threat. “He went 14:51 at his trials and that wouldn't have made the team here,” Short said. “It's a great reflection of where our country's at.”
Short also revealed his ultimate goal: “The 400 freestyle. I'm really training my bum off for that. 3:39, I'm dreaming about that.”
Earlier in the night, Mollie O'Callaghan won the women's 100m freestyle. Shayna Jack finished third but under the qualifying time, booking her place on the Dolphins team alongside her brother Jamie — already selected in the 50m freestyle. The siblings embraced near the warm-up pool, with Jack overcome with emotion.
“Our family is very talented. We always reach for the stars. It's obviously really special when we do achieve those dreams.”
Jack also paid tribute to Jemma Stapleton, a Victorian athlete who died in an overseas accident, and Jai Arrow, whose family is dealing with a difficult situation. “It puts things into perspective,” she said.
Zac Stubblety-Cook (2:08.92) and Ella Ramsay (2:24.04) won their respective 200m breaststroke finals after a disruptive move away from Griffith earlier this year.
The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow are just weeks away. If Short's form holds, Australia could be looking at a clean sweep in the men's 1500m — and Short might finally get that pizza.