2026 Australian Swimming Trials: Day 3 Finals Live Recap

2026 AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING TRIALS

• Monday, June 8 – Saturday, June 13, 2026
• Sydney, Australia
• Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre
• LCM (50 meters)
• Meet Central
• Commonwealth Selection Criteria
• Pan Pac Selection Criteria
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Live Stream
• Storylines To Watch
• Live Recaps:
  • Prelims: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2
• Day 3 Finals Heat Sheet

The third night of finals from the 2026 Australian Swimming Trials promising to be an exciting one with a star-studded lineup set to compete, including two reigning world champions.

Mollie O’Callaghan, the reigning Olympic and world champion in the women’s 200 freestyle, will kick tonight’s action off in her best event, and perhaps she’s got Ariarne Titmus‘ world record in her sights after producing a pair of 1:53-mids earlier this year.

O’Callaghan, who previously held the world record at 1:52.85, saw Titmus take down her mark at the 2024 Australian Olympic Trials in a time of 1:52.23, while O’Callaghan produced the second-fastest performance ever in 1:52.48 in the same heat.

So far this year, O’Callaghan has gone 1:53.52 in March and 1:53.69 in April, faster than she was throughout the entirety of 2025, which is a positive sign heading into tonight.

The women’s 50 breaststroke will be headlined by 17-year-old Sienna Toohey, who won the 100 breast last night in a new Aussie Age Record and her first time under the 1:06 barrier.

The men’s 50 freestyle will feature world record holder and reigning Olympic and world champion Cameron McEvoy, who took down the super-suited world record of 20.88 at the China Open in March. McEvoy may be looking to respond to Russia’s Egor Kornev clocking 21.06 at the Russian Swimming Championships on Tuesday.

We’ll then see three male swimmers riding the hot hand head up the last three able-bodied events of the night, with Harrison Turner in the 200 fly, Sam Williamson in the 50 breast and Sam Short in the 800 free.

Turner, the 2025 World Championship bronze medalist in the 200 fly, set a pair of best times en route to 3rd-place finishes in the 200 free and 100 fly on Tuesday, giving him some momentum entering his best event.

Williamson, coming off a knee injury that kept him out of action last year, won the 100 breast on Monday in a time of 59.07, which is a positive sign heading into the 50, which has historically been his better event.

The session will conclude with the fastest seeded heat of the 800 free, where Short will be the big favorite to make it three-for-three in terms of both victories and personal bests in Sydney after winning the 400 free on Monday and the 200 free on Tuesday.

South Korean Kim Woomin posted the fastest time out of the morning heats in 7:53.42, while Miami’s Tomo Shadforth was the top Australian in 8:02.68.

WOMEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• World Record: 1:52.23, Ariarne Titmus (AUS) – 2024
• Commonwealth Record: 1:52.23, Ariarne Titmus (AUS) – 2024
• Australian Record: 1:52.23, Ariarne Titmus – 2024
• All Comers Record: 1:52.23, Ariarne Titmus (AUS) – 2024
• SA Qualifying Time: 1:56.03

‘A’ Final

1. Mollie O’Callaghan (St. Peters Western), 1:52.86
2. Lani Pallister (St. Peters Western), 1:53.65
3. Inez Miller (Highlanders), 1:56.41
4. Hannah Casey (Bond), 1:56.85
5. Brittany Castelluzzo (Tea Tree Gully), 1:57.01
6. Milla Jansen (St. Peters Western), 1:57.13
7. Jenna Forrester (St. Peters Western), 1:57.36
8. Meg Harris (Rackley), 1:57.63

Reigning Olympic and world champion Mollie O’Callaghan flirted with the world record throughout the final of the women’s 200 freestyle, and despite the WR line pulling away from her over the last few meters, she still produced one of the fastest swims ever.

The 22-year-old put up a time of 1:52.86, the third-fastest swim of her career and the fifth-fastest in history to reset her world-leading time of 1:53.52 set at the China Open in March.

O’Callaghan has been quicker twice; she broke the super-suited world record at the 2023 World Championships in a time of 1:52.85, and then at the 2024 Australian Olympic Trials, she was the runner-up to the world record-breaking Ariarne Titmus with the second-fastest swim ever in 1:52.48.

All-Time Performances, Women’s 200 Freestyle (LCM)

1. Ariarne Titmus (AUS), 1:52.23 – 2024 Australian Olympic Trials
2. Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS), 1:52.48 – 2024 Australian Olympic Trials
3. Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS), 1:52.85 – 2023 World Championships
4. Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS), 1:52.86 – 2026 Australian Swimming Trials
5. Federica Pellegrini (ITA), 1:52.98 – 2009 World Championships

O’Callaghan was well under Titmus’ world record pace through each of the three turns, including sitting more than half a second back at the 150 (1:23.43 to 1:23.95) before splitting 29.43 coming home, compared to Titmus, who closed in 28.28 when she broke the all-time mark.

Notably, O’Callaghan was a massive 1.57 seconds quicker than she was at the 2025 Trials (1:54.43).

Taking the runner-up position with a standout performance of her own was Lani Pallister, O’Callaghan’s St. Peter’s Western teammate who became just the eighth woman under 1:54 barrier.

Pallister had clearly established herself in the 2nd position at the final turn, and then threw down the fastest closing 50 in the field in 28.90 to clock a blistering 1:53.65, tying her with Canadian Summer McIntosh for 5th all-time in the event.

All-Time Performers, Women’s 200 Freestyle (LCM)

1. Ariarne Titmus (AUS), 1:52.23 – 2024 Australian Olympic Trials
2. Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS), 1:52.48 – 2024 Australian Olympic Trials
3. Federica Pellegrini (ITA), 1:52.98 – 2009 World Championships
4. Allison Schmitt (USA), 1:53.61 – 2012 Olympic Games
5. Summer McIntosh (CAN) / Lani Pallister (AUS), 1:53.65 – 2023 World Championships / 2026 Australian Swimming Trials

Pallister also moves into #2 in the world this season behind O’Callaghan.

Nineteen-year-old Inez Miller, who is coming off her freshman year at the University of Texas, was back in 6th at the 150-meter mark, but charged home in 29.35 to pull up into 3rd in a time of 1:56.41, nearly a full second under the personal best time she set in the prelims of 1:57.30. Coming into the meet, her PB stood at 1:57.32.

Rounding out the top four and solidifying a spot on the Commonwealth and Pan Pac teams was Bond’s Hannah Casey, who was up in 3rd at the final turn and despite fading, held on for 4th in a time of 1:56.85. The 20-year-old owns a PB of 1:56.09 from last year.

MEN’S 200 IM MC– FINAL

Top Three

1. Timothy Hodge SM10 (Blacktown), 2:13.82 – 960 pts
2. Ricky Betar SM14 (UWA West Coast), 2:08.77 – 924 pts
3. Samuel Gould SM9 (Griffith), 2:15.26

Reigning Paralympic champion Timothy Hodge topped the men’s multi-class 200 IM in a time of 2:13.82, scoring the SM10 swimmer 960 para points and qualifying him for the Para Pan Pacs. Hodge has already been named to the Para Commonwealth team.

Hodge won the SM9 gold medal in the men’s 200 IM at the 2024 Paralympics in a time of 2:13.31.

UWA West Coast’s Ricky Betar (SM14) posted the fastest time of the field in 2:08.77, good for 924 para points and 2nd place overall.

MEN’S 150 IM MC– FINAL’

Top Three

1. Grant Patterson SM3 (Central Cairns), 3:11.43 – 586 pts
2. Ahmed Kelly SM3 (Yarra Plenty), 3:12.71 – 574 pts

Central Cairns’ Grant Patterson edged out Yarra Plenty’s Ahmed Kelly in the men’s multi-class 150 IM, as the two SM3 athletes posted respective times of 3:11.43 and 3:12.71.

Kelly out-split Patterson on both the breaststroke and freestyle 50s, but his backstroke deficit (nearly five seconds) was too much to overcome. Both qualify for the Para Pan Pac team with these performances.

WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE MC – FINAL

Top Three

1. Jasmine Greenwood S10 (Woden Valley), 28.00 – 907 pts
2. Kirralee Hayes S13 (Genesis), 28.12 – 843 pts
3. Madeleine McTernan S14 (Griffith), 27.95 – 808 pts

After winning the multi-class 100 fly last night, Jasmine Greenwood added another event to her Para Pan Pac program tonight in the women’s 50 free, posting a time of 28.00 to score 907 para points as an S10 athlete.

Kirralee Hayes, classified in S13, scored 843 points with her 28.12 clocking to place 2nd and also land a spot at Para Pan Pacs.

WOMEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL

• World Record: 29.16, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) – 2023
• Commonwealth Record: 29.72, Lara van Niekerk (RSA) – 2022
• Australian Record: 30.05, Chelsea Hodges – 2022
• All Comers Record: 30.15, Chelsea Hodges (AUS) – 2022
• SA Qualifying Time: 30.37

‘A’ Final

1. Sienna Toohey (Albury), 30.57
2. Lily Koch (Melbourne Vicentre), 30.97
3. Mia O’Leary (Griffith), 31.23
4. Sienna Harben (Griffith), 31.28
5. Matilda Smith (Miami), 31.69
6. Sienna Walo (Southport), 31.75
7. Kyla Brown (Bond), 31.91
8. Tilly King (Bond), 32.11

Sienna Toohey recovered from a slow start to eventually pull away from the field in the final of the women’s 50 breaststroke, using her high stroke rate to claim the national title in a time of 30.57

The time is only one one-hundredth faster than she was on the opening 50 of her victorious 100 breast last night, having split 30.58 on the way to a breakthrough 1:05.97 swim, and despite missing the SA qualifying time of 30.37, she’ll still be able to swim the 50 at both the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacs having already made both teams.

The 17-year-old Albury product owns a personal best time of 30.39, set this past April at the Australian Open, which ranks her tied for 10th in the world this season.

Toohey said in her post-race interview that she doesn’t specifically train for the 50 and that the 100 has been her primary focus of late.

Melbourne Vicentre’s Lily Koch had an impressive showing, setting a new lifetime best of 30.97 to claim the runner-up spot and breaking 31 seconds for the first time. The 17-year-old’s previous best stood at 31.09, set last year.

Griffith University teammates Mia O’Leary and Sienna Harben finished 3rd and 4th, respectively, posting times of 31.23 and 31.28. Both have broken 31 seconds before, including O’Leary setting her PB of 30.72 earlier this year.

MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• World Record: 20.88, Cameron McEvoy (AUS) – 2026
• Commonwealth Record: 20.88, Cameron McEvoy (AUS) – 2026
• Australian Record: 20.88, Cameron McEvoy – 2026
• All Comers Record: 21.19, Ashley Callus (AUS) – 2009
• SA Qualifying Time: 21.77

‘A’ Final

1. Cameron McEvoy (Somerville House), 21.32
2. Jamie Jack (St. Peters Western), 21.52
3. Flynn Southam (Bond), 21.72
4. Ollie Moclair (SOPAC), 21.79
5. Ben Armbruster (Bond), 21.80
6. Isaac Cooper (St. Andrew’s), 21.90
7. Thomas Nowakowski (USC Spartans), 22.06
8. Thomas Robinson (Cruiz), 22.42

It wasn’t the perfect performance we saw earlier this year in China, but Cameron McEvoy still did enough to claim the national title in the men’s 50 freestyle in a time of 21.32, tying the 11th-fastest performance of his career.

The 32-year-old Somerville House swimmer stunned the world when he broke the super-suited world record at the China Open in March in a time of 20.88. He said post-race that it was a surprise to him as well, and that his goal is to re-break the mark at the Commonwealth Games in July.

Behind McEvoy, it was a blazing-fast field with an incredible six men under the 22-second barrier after five did it this morning.

St. Peters Western’s Jamie Jack came through to make his first senior international team by clocking a season-best of 21.52, comfortably under the SA qualifying time of 21.77 and moving him into 7th in the world this season.

After placing 5th at the Australian Trials in 21.84, Jack dropped a stunning new lifetime best of 21.43 last summer racing at the U.S. Pro Championships, which was faster than what was required to win bronze at the 2025 World Championships.

Bond’s Flynn Southam dropped 13 one-hundredths off his personal best to claim 3rd place in a time of 21.72, also getting under the qualifying time to likely earn a spot on the Commonwealth and Pan Pac teams.

Sydney’s Ollie Moclair, who set a best time of 21.73 in April at the Aussie Age Championships, was just shy of that mark in 21.79 for 4th, showing impressive consistency for the 18-year-old after he was 21.83 in the heats.

Southam’s Bond teammate Ben Armbruster chipped four one-hundredths off his PB in 21.80 for 5th, while Isaac Cooper was the sixth man sub-22 in 21.90. Cooper owns a best time of 21.65 from 2023.

MEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – FINAL

• World Record: 1:50.34, Kristof Milak (HUN) – 2022
• Commonwealth Record: 1:52.96, Chad Le Clos (RSA) – 2012
• Australian Record: 1:54.17, Harrison Turner – 2025
• All Comers Record: 1:52.09, Michael Phelps (USA) – 2007
• SA Qualifying Time: 1:54.94

‘A’ Final

1. Harrison Turner (Nudgee College), 1:55.18
2. Se-Bom Lee (SOPAC), 1:57.85
3. Alex Quach (Nudgee College), 1:58.49
4. Sean Alcorn (Peel), 1:59.53
5. Caio Gallo (Logan Vikings), 1:59.67
6. Caleb Dryer (Carlile), 2:00.04
7. Harvey Larke (Griffith), 2:00.81
8. William Jordan (Brisbane Grammar), 2:01.14

Coming off an incredibly tough double on Tuesday, Harrison Turner dominated the final of the men’s 200 fly one night later, establishing a big lead early to ultimately claim the national title in a time of 1:55.18.

Turner, the 2025 World Championship bronze medalist in this event, employed his typical race strategy by going out hard which led to him tightening up a bit on the last 50, splitting 25.18/29.39/29.57/31.04.

The time is the sixth-fastest of his career, having clocked 1:54 four times in 2025, including setting the Aussie Record of 1:54.17 in Singapore, and hitting a season-best of 1:55.07 this past December.

However, his 31.04 closing 50 tonight was actually faster than he was in any of his 1:54 swims—though he was quicker when he went 1:55.07 (30.49). He didn’t quite have the same pop on the front half that he did last year, which is likely due in part to the 200 free/100 fly double he took on last night.

Despite missing the SA qualifying time of 1:54.94, Turner landed a spot on the Commonwealth and Pan Pac rosters last night in the 200 free so will still represent Australia in the 200 fly this summer.

Sydney’s Se-Bom Lee ran down Turner’s Nudgee College teammate Alex Quach on the last 50 to snag 2nd in a time of 1:57.85, with Quach fading to 3rd in 1:58.49. Quach was nearly 1.4 seconds up on Lee at the 150, 1:25.19 to 1:26.57, but his 33.30 final 50 allowed Lee (31.28) to overtake him.

Lee’s swim marks a new best time, while Quach set a PB of 1:58.08 earlier this year.

South African Matt Sates, who is seeking Australian sporting citizenship, topped the ‘B’ final in 1:56.44, which is his fastest swim in two years.

MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE MC – FINAL

Top Three

1. Tom Gallagher S10 (St. Peters Western), 23.62 – 943 pts
2. Rowan Crothers S10 (Marion), 23.72 – 931 pts
3. Alex Tuckfield S10 (Aquablitz Toongabbie), 24.27 – 869 pts

A trio of S10 athletes swept the podium in the men’s multi-class 50 free, with St. Peters Western’s Tom Gallagher leading the way in a time of 23.62.

Gallagher was two one-hundredths faster than this morning, while Marions’ Rowan Crothers added a bit in 23.72 after going 23.57 in the prelims. Those two, along with Alex Tuckfield, all hit the Para Pan Pac qualifying time.

MEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL

• World Record: 25.95, Adam Peaty (GBR) – 2017
• Commonwealth Record: 25.95, Adam Peaty (GBR) – 2017
• Australian Record: 26.32, Sam Williamson – 2024
• All Comers Record: 26.58, Cameron van der Burgh (RSA) – 2018
• SA Qualifying Time: 26.93

‘A’ Final

1. Sam Williamson (Melbourne Vicentre), 26.61
2. Gideon Burnes (Bond), 27.37
3. Joshua Anderson (Brisbane Grammar), 27.60
4. Grayson Bell (Somerville House), 27.62
5. James McKechnie (Starplex), 27.72
6. Matthew Loffler (Riverton Aquanauts), 27.74
7. Joshua Collett (Bond), 27.77
8. Christopher Montana (Trinity Grammar), 28.01

Sam Williamson got the job done in tonight’s final of the men’s 50 breaststroke, putting up a new season-best time of 26.61 to move up into 4th in the 2025-26 world rankings.

Williamson, who admitted post-race that it’s been an emotional week as he returns from an injury that kept him out of the 2025 Trials, was seventh one-hundredths faster than he was in the prelims (26.68), which was his first time sub-27 this season.

The 28-year-old set the Australian Record of 26.32 en route to winning the world title in 2024. Tonight’s performance marks his fastest swim since going 26.66 in February 2025, prior to the knee injury that kept him out of competition last summer.

Having already won the 100 breast here and qualified for the Commonwealth and Pan Pac teams, Williamson adds the 50 event to his lineup with the victory, comfortably getting under the 26.93 qualifying time to boot.

Bond’s Gideon Burnes, 20, clocked 27.37 to earn the runner-up spot, edging out 21-year-old Joshua Anderson (27.60) from Brisbane Grammar. Burnes was just shy of the 27.24 best time he set earlier this year, while Anderson improved on his previous PB of 27.66.

WOMEN’S 200 IM MC– FINAL

Top Three

1. Stephanie Bruzzese SM14 (PLC Sydney), 2:32.23 – 751 pts
2. Jasmin Fullgrabe SM9 (Marion), 2:40.86 – 736 pts
3. Ruby Storm SM14 (USC Spartans), 2:34.13 – 724 pts

Stephanie Bruzzese and Jasmin Fullgrabe were both over the moon in their post-race interview as both solidified a spot at Para Pan Pacs in the women’s multi-class 200 IM.

Bruzzese, classified as an SM14 athlete in this event, set a personal best time of 2:32.23 to score 751 para points and earn the victory, landing her first Dolphins roster spot.

Fullgrabe, SM9, went 2:40.86 for 736 para points to take 2nd overall, edging out the 724 points Ruby Storm put up with her 2:34.13 clocking as an SM14 swimmer. Fullgrabe was named to the Para Commonwealth roster last month.

MEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – TIMED FINAL

• World Record: 7:32.12, Zhang Lin (CHN) – 2009
• Commonwealth Record: 7:37.76, Sam Short (AUS) – 2023
• Australian Record: 7:37.76, Sam Short – 2023
• All Comers Record: 7:40.39, Sam Short (AUS) – 2023
• SA Qualifying Time: 7:46.36

Top 8 Overall (AUS)

1. Sam Short (Rackley), 7:36.73 *Textile WR, Commonwealth, AUS, All Comers Record*
2. Ben Goedemans (St. Peter’s Western), 7:47.62
3. Matthew Galea (St. Peter’s Western), 7:49.09
4. Elijah Winnington (St. Peter’s Western), 7:55.24
5. Tex Cross (Highlanders), 7:57.80
6. Tomo Shadforth (Miami), 8:02.68
7. Thomas Raymond (Kawana Waters), 8:03.03
8. Kyle Lee (Noosa), 8:04.56

Sam Short unleashed the fastest textile performance of all-time in the fastest seeded heat of the men’s 800 freestyle to close Wednesday night’s finals session in Sydney.

The 22-year-old Rackley swimmer went out like a rocket, similar to what we saw him to don the opening night of competition in the 400 free, as he turned in a sizzling 3:45.89 at the halfway mark, nearly a full second under Zhang Lin‘s super-suited world record pace of 3:46.79 (though Zhang negative split the event).

Although Short fell off Zhang’s record pace during the third 200, he was still under his own Commonwealth and Australian Record pace, and Ahmed Jaouadi‘s textile world record pace, with 100 meters to go.

Coming home, Short turned on the jets, splitting 28.88/27.47 (after he hadn’t split sub-29 since the 400-meter turn) to finish in a time of 7:36.73, breaking Jaouadi’s mark of 7:36.88 for the fastest textile performance ever.

• Short’s Splits By 200:
  • 1:50.80
  • 3:45.89 (1:55.09)
  • 5:42.17 (1:56.28)
  • 7:36.73 (1:54.56)

Short also knocked more than a second off his Commonwealth, Oceanian and Australian Record of 7:37.76, set at the 2023 World Championships, and he obliterated his All Comers Record of 7:40.39, also set in 2023.

Short moves up from 5th into 3rd on the all-time performers list, only trailing Zhang and Oussama Mellouli, who produced their swims racing head-to-head at the 2009 World Championships wearing super suits.

All-Time Performers, Men’s 800 Freestyle (LCM)

1. Zhang Lin (CHN), 7:32.12 – 2009 World Championships
2. Oussama Mellouli (TUN), 7:35.27 – 2009 World Championships
3. Sam Short (AUS), 7:36.73 – 2026 Australian Swimming Trials
4. Ahmed Jaouadi (TUN), 7:36.88 – 2025 World Championships
5. Ahmed Hafnaoui (TUN), 7:37.00 – 2023 World Championships

Short also now holds two of the four-fastest textile performances in history, and overtakes upstart German Johannes Liebmann for the top spot in the world this season.

All-Time Textile Performances, Men’s 800 Freestyle (LCM)

1. Sam Short (AUS), 7:36.73 – 2026 Australian Swimming Trials
2. Ahmed Jaouadi (TUN), 7:36.88 – 2025 World Championships
3. Ahmed Hafnaoui (TUN), 7:37.00 – 2023 World Championships
4. Sam Short (AUS), 7:37.76 – 2023 World Championships
5. Johannes Liebmann (GER), 7:37.94 – 2026 Swim Open Stockholm

Short previously ranked #2 in the world with the 7:40.98 Pro Swim Series Record he set this past March in Westmont.

Tonight’s swim only marked Short’s second time under the 7:40 barrier, though he’s been just above it on several occasions. He has the most sub-7:41 swims of any man in history, having now done so six times.

Last year, he was among the gold medal favorites in the event at the World Championships, but was forced to withdraw from the final due to illness. That came after an injury plagued 2024 saw him finish 9th at the Olympics in Paris, missing the final. His last fully healthy season was 2023, when he won gold in the 400 free, silver in the 800 free and bronze in the 1500 free at the World Championships.

He’s been on fire all week, winning the 400 free in a lifetime best of 3:40.67 on the opening night of competition and then following up by claiming the 200 free title on Tuesday in another PB of 1:45.16.

Claiming the runner-up spot behind Short was St. Peters Western’s Ben Goedemans, who held a narrow advantage over teammate Matthew Galea throughout the race before opening up a gap of more than two seconds with 100 to go. Despite Galea closing well, splitting 27.76 coming home, Goedemans held on for silver in a time of 7:47.62, with Galea taking 3rd in 7:49.09.

Goedemans was just over a second shy of his personal best time of 7:46.16, set at last year’s Trials, and the SA qualifying time of 7:46.36. Galea broke 7:50 for the first time, lowering his previous best of 7:50.25 set back in 2023.

South Korean Kim Woomin‘s time of 7:53.42 from the morning heats ended up ranking 4th overall, though we haven’t included him in the top eight as he’s an international athlete. Miami’s Tomo Shadforth was the top Australian this morning in 8:02.68, which ended up holding up for 6th overall among Aussies.