2023 Worlds Silver Medalist Samuel Short Misses Out on 800 Free Final at Paris Olympics

2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games

Men’s 800-Meter Freestyle – Prelims

  • World Record: 7:32.12 – Zhang Lin, China (2009)
  • World Junior Record: 7:43.37 – Lorenzo Galossi, Italy (2022)
  • Olympic Record: 7:41.28 – Mykhailo Romanchuk, Ukraine (2021)
  • 2021 Winning Time: 7:41.87 – Bobby Finke, United States
  • 2021 Time to Advance to Finals: 7:47.73

Top 8

  1. Daniel Wiffen (IRE) – 7:41.53
  2. Ahmed Jaouadi (TUN) – 7:42.07
  3. Gregorio Paltinieri (ITA) – 7:42.48
  4. Elijah Winnington (AUS) – 7:42.86
  5. Bobby Finke (USA) – 7:43.00
  6. Sven Schwatz (GER) – 7:43.67
  7. Luca de Tullio (ITA) – 7:44.07
  8. David Aubry (FRA) – 7:44.59

Australia’s Sam Short, the silver medalist in the 800 free at the 2023 World Championships, missed out on qualifying for the final in the event in Paris Monday morning, placing 9th overall with a time of 7:46.83.

The result comes as a slight surprise given that Short went into the 800 as the top seed, entered with his time of 7:37.76 from Worlds.

The 20-year-old was reportedly sick during competition at the Australian Swimming Trials in June, suffering from a gastro illness that inhibited his performances. Short was the runner-up in the 800 with a time of 7:46.52 but pulled out of the 1500 later in the program.

Short missing the final in Paris is an unexpected outcome for Australia, as he had been one of the heavy favorites for a medal in the event, but teammate Elijah Winnington will move on to the final after placing 4th in prelims with a time of 7:42.86.

Already at this Olympics, Short raced the 400 free, placing 4th overall in the final with a time of 3:42.64, about two seconds off of his lifetime best.

Short is scheduled to compete in the upcoming 1500 free on Saturday; he is the #4 seed in the event.

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David Clossey
48 minutes ago

JUST as I expected when I drafted him, ALL according to plan

PVK
1 hour ago

Sad!

TxSwimDad
1 hour ago

That sucks. A brutal part of sports. Hope he bounces back quickly

Andrew
1 hour ago

Unfortunately not surprising as his form was compromised by untimely, well-publicized illnesses

He’ll be back

chickenlamp
2 hours ago

It’s hard to replicate the kind of year he had last year, and his illness/injury has unfortunately derailed this Olympics for him. Hopefully he gets well and is back at it soon. He’ll be 24 in LA, plenty young enough to get some medals

Marchand 3x Golds
2 hours ago

Came up just Short of making the 800 final, after coming up just Short of making the 400 free podium

Irrelevant swimming productions
2 hours ago

This man made me lose 50$. Actually embarrassing

Troyy
Reply to  Irrelevant swimming productions
2 hours ago

Why would you bet on a guy who’d been sick for weeks leading into trials?

KSW
Reply to  Irrelevant swimming productions
1 hour ago

Double down for finals. put $100 on Winnington

Verram
3 hours ago

I wonder if we will get an explanation what’s happened to him in the last few months ? Is it more than just gastro