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2mo ago

Short, McKeown and Rising Teenagers Dominate Sydney Trials as Selectors Prepare Final Calls

Standout swims have secured many Commonwealth berths with remaining borderline selections due to be decided by Swimming Australia.

Mollie O'Callaghan swam the fourth fastest 200m freestyle of all time at the Australian trials
Cam McEvoy is set to explode at the Commonwealth Games swimming trials. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)
Australia's Kaylee McKeown clocked the fastest 50m backstroke of the year at the Australian Commonwealth Games trials
Australian swimmer Sam Short has fired a warning shot after securing Commonwealth Games selection. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)

Overview

  • Sam Short produced a personal best 3:40.67 in the men's 400m on Monday to record the world-leading time for 2026 and clinch his place on Australia's Commonwealth Games team.
  • Kaylee McKeown won both the 50m and 100m backstroke finals while battling illness and withdrew from the 200m individual medley because of her condition.
  • Lani Pallister broke the four‑minute barrier to win the women's 400m freestyle and Mollie O'Callaghan touched in 1:52.86 on Wednesday to narrowly miss the 200m world record.
  • Seventeen‑year‑old Sienna Toohey stunned the meet with a 1:05.97 in the 100m breaststroke to book a Commonwealth spot while Henry Allan won the men's 100m backstroke but sits outside the automatic qualifying time and awaits a technical selection decision.
  • The trials are deciding both individual places and relay composition under Swimming Australia's strict time cuts so selectors will now weigh recent form, relay needs and borderline performances before finalising the Glasgow and Pan Pac teams.