Aus Short Course Champs Day 3 Preview

A cracking first two days of racing has seen seven national – and a world record – tumble.

Breakout stars like Amelie Smith and Marcus Da Silva have emerged amongst the likes of in-form Dolphins Lani Pallister, Sam Short, Flynn Southam and Jenna Forrester but making the Dolphins team for the 2026 World Short Course Championships in China in December will be tough with selection capped at 24.

Heats start 10am AEST // Finals start 6pm AEST

DAY 3 SWIMMERS’ SIX-PACK PREVIEW

BEN ARMBRUSTER
BOND, QLD – 100M FLY

Stanthorpe’s own Ben Armbruster has had a massive comeback year after the disappointment of missing Australian team selection in 2025.

So far, Armbruster’s 2026 campaign boasts Oceanic, Commonwealth and Pan Pacs records paired with several podiums in Glasgow and California. The Paris Olympian won his first individual gold on the international stage in Glasgow – a special moment shared with fellow Dolphin Kyle Chalmers. The pair clocked a Games record to tie for the 50m fly gold.

And at this meet, Armbruster has already made history as the first Australian to crack the 22 second mark in the 50m fly (short course) – a 21.90.

ELIJAH WINNINGTON
ST PETERS WESTERN, QLD – 400M FREESTYLE

A refreshed Elijah Winnington (pictured), who is hoping to defend his 400m free short course title at the Water Cube, is ready to rip into what is effectively a “new” season.

The 26-year-old’s gold medal swim in Budapest 2024 was a well-timed race that showcased the two-time Olympian’s experience, and he clocked a PB of 3:35.89 to win.

Winnington has recently returned from Glasgow and California and swapped programs and coaches – from Dean Boxall at St Peters to Tim Lane at Somerville, where he will train with great mate Cam McEvoy.

MADDIE MCTERNAN
GRIFFITH UNI, QLD – 100M FREE MC

In form and on fire. Maddie McTernan has been a standout at SOPAC. On opening day, she clocked 2:08.30 in the 200m freestyle multiclass heats and broke her own S14 women’s national record by 1.53 seconds set in 2020. McTernan then doubled down and clocked a new record time of 2:07.68 in the final.

The two-time Paralympian from the Gold Coast moved to train under Rick Pendleton at Griffith Uni Swim Club and won one gold and one silver – both in an Oceania record time – at Para Pan Pacs in California last month.

BRITTANY CASTELLUZZO
TEA TREE GULLY, SA – 100M BUTTERFLY

It’s been a breakout year for South Australia’s flyer Brittany Castelluzzo who won her first-ever individual medal on the international stage and made sure it was a gold in Glasgow in the 200m butterfly. She then followed up in a big way with a second gold in Pan Pacs in California.

Training in Adelaide out of the South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) under coach Craig Stewart and swimming for Adelaide-based club Tea Tree Gully, the defending Australian titleholder is gunning for a second World Short Course Dolphins cap after representing Australia in Melbourne, 2022.

JESSE COLEMAN
BOND, QLD – 100M FLY

2025 Singapore World Championship Dolphin Jesse Coleman stamped his ticket to China with a qualifying swim in the 50m butterfly on opening night. Coleman placed second behind newly minted Australian record holder Ben Armbruster and the Bond Uni duo will battle for a national title again, this time in today’s 100m butterfly.

TARA KINDER
MELBOURNE VICENTRE, VIC – 200M MEDLEY

The defending titleholder Tara Kinder stepped away from the sport for a couple of years before coming back stronger to make her senior debut at the Budapest 2024 World Short Course Championships where she picked up bronze as part of the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay team.

A talented breaststroker and individual medley racer, Kinder competed at her first Commonwealth Games before heading to California to race at Pan Pacific Championships, she is now gunning for a third Australian team in 2026.

Junior Dolphin Amelie Smith – who won the women’s 100m breaststroke with Kinder second – also dives in today to strengthen her chances of earning a Dolphins’ pin and another Australian title. Smith, from Rocky City, is backing up from a huge swim last night – a silver in the 400IM behind Jenna Forrester.