Sam Short has talked up the prospect of an Australian clean sweep in the men’s 1500m freestyle at next month’s Commonwealth Games and admits he couldn’t stop thinking about treating himself to a pizza before going close to Grant Hackett’s fabled Australian record and matching one of the swimming great’s feats.
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 took out the women’s 100m freestyle while Shayna Jack booked her ticket on the Dolphins team alongside brother Jamie after a gritty third-place finish under the qualifying time.
But the best of the evening was saved for last by Short, who had a moderate crowd at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre humming with anticipation as he launched a daring assault on Bobby Finke’s world record of 14:30.67.
Excitement grew with each lap as Short got himself to 2.65 seconds under world record pace at the halfway mark of the race.
Considering Short had already claimed the 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle titles earlier in the week, it was an audacious and fearless attempt to eclipse a world record in an event where Hackett held a lifetime best of 14:34.56.
A tiring week eventually caught up with Short, however, as he touched the wall in 14:42.09. It was 4.81 seconds outside Short’s personal best that he set at the 2023 world championships in Fukuoka.
Matt Galea (14:50.22) and Ben Goedemans (14:50.67) also narrowly went under the qualifying time of 14:51.06 – ensuring all three Australians will contest the event in Glasgow – and sending coach Dean Boxall into a spin on pool deck as he celebrated wildly, albeit not quite with the same enthusiasm he displayed when Ariarne Titmus won Olympic gold in Tokyo.
Short said on Channel Nine he felt Australia could win gold, silver and bronze in the event in Scotland.
“The biggest competitor is Dan Wiffen of Ireland, and he went 14:51 at his trials and that wouldn’t have made the team here,” Short said afterwards. “It’s a great reflection of where our country’s at and a couple of years to LA [Olympics] as well … it’s exciting.
“The last 500 [metres] hurt. That’s the fastest I have been domestically.”
Short joins Hackett as the only Australian male to complete the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle sweep at the same national championships and revealed he had begun thinking about his cheat meal long before his arms and legs started burning.
“I was thinking pizza beforehand,” Short said. “The last 500 metres I wanted one. I don’t drink coffee or caffeine during the week. I really like to have it hit me [by taking gels]. When I have it, I feel like I’m ready to run through a brick wall.
“I’m pretty sure [Hackett] won the 1500 on the international stage for 11 years in a row or something crazy. To be in the same sentence as him is an honour.”
Asked if there was one world record he’d love to break, Short said: “The 400 freestyle. I’m really training my bum off for that. I know I get two more really good opportunities this year. 3:39, I’m dreaming about that.”
There were tears on Friday night as Jack embraced her brother near the warm-up pool after securing a place on her third Commonwealth Games team. With Jamie already selected in the 50m freestyle for his first Dolphins squad, Jack was overcome with emotion after holding up her end of the bargain.
“I wanted that dream for him as well,” Shayna said.
“Our family is very talented. We always reach for the stars, that’s for sure. It’s obviously really special when we do achieve those dreams. It’s just honestly so special to be able to get myself on the team with my brother.
“I was so proud of myself being here today. We’ve lost a beautiful girl [Jemma Stapleton] from Victorian athletics today due to an accident overseas and seeing things like Jai Arrow and what he and his family is going through, it puts things into perspective.”
O’Callaghan said of her victory: “I’m always looking for improvements and I’m happy with it. It’s a stepping stone to LA.”
Zac Stubblety-Cook (2:08.92) and Ella Ramsay (2:24.04) also won their respective 200m breaststroke finals after a disruptive move away from Griffith earlier this year.
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Tom Decent is the chief sports writer for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.