Aus Open Day 3 Preview

IN A GRAND Sam day of action on the final day of the Australian Open, Sam Short (pictured) has promised to “crush” himself in the 1500m and national record holder Sam Williamson will test his “new bionic knee to the max”.

Throw in Olympic flyers Lizzy Dekkers and Matt Temple, and Para stars Col Pearse and Maddie McTernan and that is one cracking finale.

Did we mention Kaylee McKeown and Kyle Chalmers are also back in the pool.

SIX PACK TO WATCH

Sam Williamson | Melbourne Vicentre, VIC – Men’s 50m Breaststroke

Australia’s fastest breaststroker is back! After suffering a severe knee injury and missing out on the 2025 World Championships, Williamson is ready to test his speed in his pet event. Williamson currently holds the Australian record in the 50m breaststroke – a lightening quick 26.32. Grayson Bell, a 2022 Commonwealth Games Dolphin, is also looking to make waves today with the inclusion of the 50m sprint across all form strokes on the Olympic program.

Jenna Forrester | St Peters Western, QLD – Women’s 200m IM

A 2025 World Championships silver medallist, Jenna Forrester has already claimed gold on the Gold Coast, winning the 400m individual medley. Today’s 200m IM will be a close rematch between the 400m podium winners – Forrester, Tara Kinder and Ella Ramsay – but Australian record holder Kaylee McKeown could shake things up.

Tim Hodge | Blacktown, NSW – Men’s 200m Individual Medley MC

The boy from Blacktown, Tim Hodge, dives in for his world record event today. Hodge has gone from force to force throughout his para swimming career and the three-time Paralympian won his maiden individual Paralympic gold medal in the men’s 200m IM SM9 in Paris. Over the past two days, Hodge has contested the men’s multi-class 400m freestyle, 100m breaststroke and 100m fly. Today, he will also feature in the men’s multi-class 100m backstroke along with fellow Singapore World Championships Dolphins Declan Budd and Harrison Vig.

Mollie O’Callaghan | St Peters Western, QLD – Women’s 200m Freestyle

Mollie O’Callaghan made history last year when she set back-to-back short course world records in the 200m freestyle and the reigning Olympic and world champion is just as dominant in long course. Hot on O’Callaghan’s feet will be middle-distance specialists Lani Pallister and Erika Fairweather from New Zealand.

Josh Conias | Somerville House, QLD – Men’s 50m Freestyle

Training partner to world record holder Cam McEvoy, 18-year-old Josh Conias is one to watch in today’s splash ‘n dash. The stacked men’s 50m freestyle will feature the 100m freestyle Open Champion Kyle Chalmers, emerging sprint specialist and Shayna Jack’s brother, Jamie Jack, plus the likes of Olympians Flynn Southam, Isaac Cooper and Max Giuliani.

Keira Stephens | Griffith Uni, QLD – Women’s 50m Freestyle MC

Two-time Paralympian Keira Stephens has recently moved to train under Mel Marshall at Griffith University. The S10 para athlete domianted the women’s 100m breaststroke multi-class on Night 1 and is rested for her next event – the women’s 50m freestyle multi-class. But lined up against Stephens are her Paris teammates Jasmine Greenwood (S10) and Emily Beecroft (S9) who placed 1-2 at the World Para Series in February, also held at the Gold Coast Aquatic