Several Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) team members have put on a stellar display of swimming prowess at the 2023 Australian Championships on the Gold Coast this week.
Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Sam Short proved he continues to be a contender to watch, leaving a number of indelible marks on the championships.
Short swam the fastest time in the world this year for a stirring victory in the men’s 400m freestyle, clocking a personal best by more than two seconds, while also picking up the 800m and 1500m freestyle titles.
Just as he impressed with his 400m time when he went faster than Australian all-time great Grant Hackett before posting a sub-15 in the 1500, Short’s winning time of 7:42:96 secs in the 800 was the second fastest in the world this year.
Ben Armbruster turned disappointment into triumph in the men’s 50m butterfly; after being disqualified in the heats, he was re-instated into the final, winning in style and setting Australian all-comers record of 23.05.
Four-time Games medallist Tim Hodge continued to showcase his dominance in the pool, breaking his own world record twice in the 200m IM, clocking 2min 12.06sec on the way to the gold medal.
Meanwhile the final night of the event saw seven-time Games gold medallist Kyle Chalmers win the 100m freestyle title, with Matt Temple winning the 200m butterfly and Brendon Smith snatching the 400IM title.
Across the women’s competition, seven-time Games gold medallist Ariarne Titmus won two from three of her pet events, taking out the 400m freestyle after already securing the 800m, while winning silver in the 200m.
It was five-time Games gold medallist Mollie O’Callaghan who pipped Titmus in the 200m, while also taking gold over teammate Shayna Jack in a gripping women’s 100m freestyle final.
O’Callaghan produced the world’s fastest time of the year in clocking 52.63 seconds, one tenth of a second ahead of Jack, with Emma McKeon, the most decorated Australia Commonwealth Games athlete of all time, winning bronze.
Other major races saw Jack touch the wall first ahead of Meg Harris and Cate Campbell in the women’s 50m freestyle, McKeown pick up another gold in the 100m backstroke, and Elizabeth Dekkers power her way to victory in the 200m butterfly.
Katja Dedekind, Birmingham 2022 gold medallist, also claimed three gold medals throughout the competition, winning the 200m individual medley multi class, 100m backstroke multi class and 50m freestyle multi class.
The 2023 Australian Swimming Championships were held from April 17 – 20 at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre. For more information, please visit Swimming Australia.
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