Swimming Australia is in the process of creating national age group Establishment Records for short course meter events.
The federation is taking the fastest time from each single-year age group, gender, and event in its database and marking it as the baseline “Establishment Record”. These records will be marked in the record books with an asterisk. If an age-group swimmer posts a time after July 1, 2024, that beats the Establishment Record, they will then hold the record with no asterisk.
On July 5, 15-year-old Sienna Toohey became the first official short course age group record holder. Toohey posted times of 30.94 and 1:06.79 in the 50- and 100-meter breaststroke to take down the Establishment Records. She recently lowered these records to 30.40 and 1:06.21 at the Australian Short Course Championships.
The list of short course establishment records and more information on Establishment Record rules can be found here.
The Establishment Record book is full of past and present Australian swimming stars. On the men’s side, Ian Thorpe holds the oldest record. His 2:07.42 200 IM from August of 1996 remains the fastest ever swum by a 13-year-old Australian. Other new Establishment Record holders include Grant Hackett, Cameron McEvoy, Matthew Wilson, and Thomas Fraser-Holmes.
Breaststroke great Leisel Jones holds the oldest short course Establishment Record on the women’s side. In December of 2002, the then-17-year-old swam a 2:20.89 200 breaststroke that hasn’t been bested. Cate Campbell, Emily Seebohm, and Kaylee McKeown are among other Olympic gold medalists who are now Establishment Record Holders.
Swimming Australia is also reportedly establishing age group records for long course stroke 50s (backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly), but these Establishment Records are not yet on Swimming Australia’s website.
Australia is part of what is perhaps a trend of swimming federations expanding recognition in their record books. The United States recently added stroke 50 records to their 13-14 age group.
Lily Koch lowered Sienna’s time in the 100m breaststroke at SC nationals as well. Some outstanding swimming happening and great the swimmers are being recognised.
Can someone explain WTF is going on with Australian Swimming and World Aquatics? Read a headline that they’re threatening to suspend Australia but not clear on why.
Thorpe the goat. I wish he didn’t retire back in 06. Those Beijing Olympics would look very different with him. And he probably would have gone 3:36 in the super suits.
His 400m was getting slower and was having health issues… highly doubt a 3:36
They’ve added the space in the PDF for the LCM stroke 50s but haven’t yet inserted the establishment records.
Every australian freestyler ever try to swim faster than Ian Thorpe challenge (NOT POSSIBLE)
dude is the GOAT
His 400 is just legendary. If not for a super suit beating him by 0.01 he’d have the longest standing record on the books.
With the US and now Australia recognizing 50 records for age group, one has to think that the 50’s are going to more heavily pushed for inclusion in the Olympics. Probably not 2028 but I imagine 2032 or 2036 are legitimate targets. They will hopefully get rid of semifinals for 200 events at the least, though I’m in favor of getting rid of it all together for all events.
50s are more exciting. If anything, include the 200 free relay. So much adrenaline and people are already swimming the 50 free at the Olympics.
I disagree. This will create more medals and that leads to medal inflation. They will become worthless. Olympic medals will become participation trophies.
Just like baseball did when it expanded the playoffs to include divisional and wild card games. All those home run and hits totals are so inflated. Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth are so irrelevant now. 😜I hate it when we get to see more, good performances from talented athletes and teams.
50’s for all 4 strokes!!!!!
Speed thrills.Very few folks watch the marathon at the Olympics vs the 100M sprints.
I hope you meet Ruta Meilutyte and Adam Peaty in a dark alleyway someday and discuss this with them.