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Lani Pallister broke the Australian women's 400m short course freestyle record at the national championships in Sydney, while Sam Short also won the men's 400m title.
Lani Pallister broke the Australian women's 400m short course freestyle record at the national short course championships in Sydney on Thursday, the penultimate night of racing at Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. Pallister clocked 3 minutes and 54.55 seconds, the fastest women's time ever recorded in Australia, shaving 0.03 seconds off the mark set by Ariarne Titmus six years ago. Sam Short also won the men's 400m freestyle title, continuing his impressive run in 2026. The final day of the championships will be held tonight in Sydney.
Pallister and Short Continue 2026 Dominance
Pallister and Short have continued their tremendous 2026 season, winning more national short course titles in Sydney. The pair, who had already scooped a hatful of Commonwealth and Pan Pacific titles, made it five Australian titles between them in a week at Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. They are intent on ending their year with more gold at the world short course championships in Beijing in December.
Pallister, having already lifted the 200m and 1,500m freestyle titles, powered to victory over 400m on the penultimate night of racing on Thursday. Short, who had already won the 800m, was in an imperious mood as he took the 16-lap title in 3 minutes and 35.16 seconds, easily inside the Beijing qualifying time of 3:39.14. That convinced him the world record of 3:32.25 was sure to fall at the famed Water Cube venue that hosted the 2008 Olympic swimming program.
Short Sets Sights on World Record in Beijing
Short expressed confidence that the world record would fall in Beijing. He said that he has not swum much short course and that in some ways it keeps you hungry. Former short course 400m world champion Elijah Winnington, though, was just outside the time needed, as he clocked 3:39.24 to finish runner-up. Winnington is a former short course 400m world champion.
Pallister was in a class of her own as she prevailed in 3:54.55. Runner-up Jenna Forrester, who won 400m individual medley gold in a national record, was 0.65 seconds outside of qualifying time. Forrester's performance added to the depth of the women's events.
Anderson Sweeps Backstroke Events
In the women's 50m, Iona Anderson continued her breakthrough year by completing her sweep of the backstroke events, clocking 25.88 seconds as she got closer to Kaylee McKeown's Australian record of 25.35 seconds. Anderson's performance signals her growing presence in the backstroke discipline.
The Australian short course championships serve as a key selection event for the world short course championships in Beijing in December. The meet has showcased the depth of Australian swimming, with athletes like Pallister, Short, and Anderson positioning themselves as medal contenders on the international stage.
Pallister's record-breaking swim and Short's dominant performance highlight their strong form as they aim to end the year with more gold in Beijing. The final day of the championships will be held tonight in Sydney, with several more events scheduled to take place.
The championships have drawn attention to the next generation of Australian swimmers, with athletes like Anderson making their mark. The results in Sydney will be closely watched as selectors finalise the team for Beijing.
With the world short course championships approaching, the Australian team will look to build on their success in Sydney. Pallister and Short, in particular, will be aiming to add to their medal tallies on the international stage.
The Olympic Park Aquatic Centre has been the venue for the championships, hosting a week of exciting racing. The final night of competition promises to deliver more thrilling performances before the focus shifts to Beijing.
Lani Pallister Sam Short Australian Short Course Championships Sydney Beijing 2026 Iona Anderson Elijah Winnington
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