Sam Short Beats Olympic Champions in 800 Freestyle

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Australian swimmer Sam Short defeated the last two Olympic champions in the men's 800 freestyle, Bobby Finke of the United States and Daniel Wiffen of Ireland, with a time of 7:40.98 at the Pro Swim Series event in Westmont, Illinois. Short was over four seconds ahead of the field at the quarter mark and pulled away for a dominant victory.

Why it matters

Short's performance showcases his emergence as a top distance swimmer on the global stage, having won silver in the 800m freestyle at the 2023 World Championships. His victory over the reigning Olympic champions in the event highlights his potential to challenge for major titles in the coming years.

The details

Short was ahead by 1.61 seconds at the 100-meter mark and then by more than four seconds just a quarter of the way through the race. He touched the wall in 7:40.98, not far off the U.S. Open record of 7:40.34 set by Finke in 2023. Finke finished second in 7:58.35, while Wiffen claimed third in 8:07.21.

• The Thursday evening finals at the Pro Swim Series in Westmont, Illinois took place on March 6, 2026.