Former Albany Creek student Sam Short is among five Moreton Bay swimmers preparing to carry Australia’s hopes at the upcoming World Championships in Singapore.
The global swimming event is set to take place from July 27 to August 3. Sam Short will join superstar Kaylee McKeown in spearheading Australia’s challenge on the world stage.
Moreton Bay’s Olympic Hope
Short, who lives in Bunya and previously attended school in Everton Hills, is aiming to defend his 400m freestyle world title won in Japan. He will also compete in the 800m and 1500m freestyle events.
His recent performances at the Australian trials in Adelaide were strong, securing victory in the 400m freestyle with a time of 3:41.03, the 800m in 7:40.95, and the 1500m in 14:52.43. To prepare for the championships, Short has been undertaking significant mileage in the pool and altitude training, hoping these efforts will pay off.
A Rapid Rise to Prominence
Sam Short, now 21 years old and with Rackley Swimming, has quickly established himself as one of Australia’s top middle and long-distance swimming talents over the past two years. He was a standout performer at the World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, in July 2023. There, he made history by becoming the first Australian since Grant Hackett in 2005 to earn medals in the 400m, 800m, and 1500m freestyle events at a single world championship.
In Fukuoka, Short impressively claimed gold in the 400m with a time of 3:40.68, coming within six-tenths of a second of breaking Ian Thorpe’s long-standing Australian record. This was the fourth-fastest time recorded in history at that point. He also secured a silver medal in the 800m and a bronze in the 1500m, moving up to second place in Australian rankings for the longest pool event, surpassing swimming greats Kieren Perkins and Mack Horton.
His international success began even earlier, helping Australia’s 4x200m freestyle relay team win a silver medal at the World Championships in Budapest in 2022. That same year, at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, he took home gold in the 1500m freestyle and silver in the 400m.
His coach, Damien Jones, has often remarked on Short’s immense dedication to training, noting that the young swimmer embraces every challenge with enthusiasm. Jones has expressed confidence that Short possesses the potential to break the 400m freestyle world record, currently held by Germany’s Paul Biedermann.
Beyond the Pool
Outside of his rigorous training schedule, Sam is pursuing a science and law degree. He also serves as an ambassador for Melanoma Institute Australia, a cause close to his heart after undergoing surgery for skin cancer on his back in 2022. Furthermore, following in the footsteps of his father Danny and uncle Stephen, Sam is an accomplished surf swimmer with the Maroochydore Surf Club.
Despite a challenging year in 2024, which included a fourth-place finish at the Paris Olympics, a result he described as a “failure”, Short has dedicated himself to regaining his top form both mentally and physically. He credits his support system, including his parents and coaches, for his current resurgence and determination. His personal best in the 400m freestyle is remarkably close to the world record, and he, along with his Australian competitors, continues to push boundaries in the sport.
Published Date 25-Jun-2025
