2025 World Championships
- July 27 – August 3, 2025 (pool swimming)
- Singapore, Singapore
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Australian swimmer Sam Short, a favorite in the men’s 800 free, has withdrawn from the final with what he’s calling ‘food poisoning.’ He is the latest swimmer to be hit with gastrointestinal troubles this week, joining at least most of the U.S. team, portions of the British team, and Italian Nicolo Martinenghi.
Short says that after his prelim swim on Tuesday, where he qualified 2nd in 7:42.22, he “got very ill very fast.” He blamed food poisoning from his hotel lunch, though food poisoning is often used colloquially to describe a wide range of gastrointestinal issues. He said that he was up all night with vomiting and “all the other nasty stuff that comes with food poisoning.”
Swimming Australia backtracked on blaming the hotel food for Short’s illness. “At this stage, there is no clear link to where the illness was contracted and we are continuing to investigate its source,” Swimming Australia said in a statement.
“We will also continue to monitor Sam’s condition and it is hoped he will recover in time to compete in Friday’s 4x200m relay.
“The team’s medical staff has been advising the team on further preventative measures and at this stage, no other Australian swimmer has had their World Championships campaign impacted.”
Short announced his withdrawal about 3.5 hours before the finals session, where the men’s 800 free medals will be contested. As of publishing, approximately 2.5 hours before the start of the session, the start lists have not been updated. The first alternate is his Australian teammate Benjamin Goedemans, who was 7:48.66 to finish 9th in heats.
*Update – the start lists were revised at 17:17 local time (5:17am EST) to include Benjamin Goedemans in lane 8. This is his first world final, at his first world championships*
Earlier in the meet, he finished 2nd in the men’s 400 free. He is still entered in the men’s 1500 free that is scheduled for August 2nd (Saturday).
While reports of GI issues at major meets is not uncommon, issues that impact the results of the meet at this scale are unusual.
Short, 21, was the 2023 World Championships silver medalist in the 800 free, one of six career World Championship medals so far. He was due for a big Olympic Games last year, but a combination of illnesses and injuries, which included a reported gastro illness during the Australian Trials in June, derailed his efforts.
Hey guys,
Just wanted to let everyone know that I will not be doing the 800m final tonight after receiving medical advice. Extremely emotional after this decision as I was very excited to showcase what I can do and the training I have done! I still believe this is my best race distance and I was ready for a PB.
After an awesome heat swim which I felt phenomenal, I got very ill very fast, which we believe is food poisoning from my hotel lunch. I have only been consuming meals from the hotel. My afternoon and night has been full of vomiting and all the other nasty stuff that comes with food poisoning! Not pleasant and extremely draining.
I had full intention of competing if I started to show signs of improvement. However this has not happened. I am going to try my best to recover as well as possible to help my team in the 4×200 relay on Friday. Sorry Australia ❤️
Thanks
Sam
When is world swimming going to banish the ill swimmers from the meet? Tori, Gretchen, Erin, most of the men…..this illness seems highly contagious and wicked nasty.
At what point did food poisoning become contagious?
I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make, but norovirus, which can be a foodborne illness, is certainly contagious. “Food poisoning” isn’t really a technical medical diagnosis, it can mean a lot of different things. Many things that fall under the category of “food poisoning” can be contagious. Listeria is not contagious. Food poisoning, e. Coli, and salmonella, for example, are contagious.
Just depends which pathogen was picked up from the food.
Just waiting for all the other countries to call for TeamUSA to be QT’d and not allowed in the pool. Haters will come after me, but it sounds like this mess is highly contagious and wicked nasty.
I mean, yes, but also… They have sick swimmers swim when possible, too, so I feel like this is unlikely because of the precedent it would create.
Visiting a wildlife sanctuary during your prep camp is another way to risk getting gastro illness. Food poisoning too. Take more precautions about the food your team eats is the advice. But when the Chinese do this and bring their own chefs it’s called out on here and in the press as doping cheats!
The US and Australia have been doing this for a while as two of the top teams… They’ve been around the block in terms or training camps. Probably don’t need your advice. China is called out as doping cheats because history shows they’re doping cheats. How many positive tests after Tokyo? Must have been their own chefs with some home cooking…
It is well known all Americans are 100% clean, and there’s definitely not been any anti-doping rule violations at USC and other programmes.
This is so unprofessional of World Aquatics. It is clear to see the USA team brought this highly contagious illness into the competition area. Questions need to be answered.
Why would World Aquatics knowingly allow the USA team into the precinct when they were infected with gastro illness?
This is meet is cursed. Poor Sam; he has terrible luck. Hope he feels better quick
“all the other nnasty stuff”
feel for you Shorty