Lincoln Wearing Downs Kieren Perkins’ 35-Year-Old LCM 800 Free Age Record

2025 QUEENSLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Saturday, December 13th – Friday, December 19th
• Brisbane Aquatic Centre
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central
• Day 1 Recap/Day 2 Recap/Day 3 Recap
• Live Results

Day four of the 2025 Queensland Championships unfolded tonight from the Brisbane Aquatic Centre and, despite a plethora of senior Olympic talent in the pool, it was 16-year-old Lincoln Wearing who stole the spotlight.

Racing in the final of his age category’s 800m freestyle, Wearing of Chandler ripped a monster lifetime best of 7:56.80 to grab the gold.

He was the decisive victor over his twin brother Isaac Wearing who scored silver well behind in 8:17.62 and St. Peters Western’s Riley Meares who wrangled up bronze in 8:23.20.

As for winner Wearing, his time undercut the longstanding Australian Age Record of 7:57.93 Olympic legend Kieren Perkins established 35 years ago at the 1990 Commonwealth Games.

Splits for Wearing’s performance tonight are below.

Entering this competition, Wearing’s career-best rested at the 8:03.73 notched at April’s Australian Age Championships, meaning he cleared the 8:00 for the first time ever.

For perspective, Wearing’s 7:56.80 would render him the 7th-fastest American 15-16-year-old boy in history.

Wearing already raced in the 100m free at these championships, capturing gold in 50.47. He also claimed 400m free gold in a mark of 3:48.15 and has the 200m free, 1500m free and 200m back yet to come.

This isn’t the teen’s first head-turning performance. Wearing has been making his mark on the Australian Age Record book for some time, including taking down Grant Hackett‘s 1500m freestyle age record at last year’s edition of these championships.