Budapest World Short Course: Day 3 Finals Wrap

AUSTRALIA had its most successful night of the 2024 World Short Course Championships in Budapest on the back of an Elijah Winnington gold and bronze medals to Lizzy Dekkers and the women’s 4x200m free relay team.

Winnington, a team leader, is finishing his stellar 2024 season with purpose and a PB of 3:35.89 in his signature event, the men’s 400m freestyle.

His message to the coaching box in his post-race celebration spoke to his grit as a competitor.

Pointing to his head, Winnington was signalling he had conquered his post-Olympic demons.

“I only started training when the rest of team were racing at the World Cup in October and November,” he said.

“I am not … at my fittest point right now, and I like to take the race out strong … I knew if I did that tonight I might not have it at the end which is where I really love to come home.

“In an Olympic year it’s always really hard and there are so many points where I was going to pull out of this meet.

“When I decided to do it, I was (mentally) breaking down with my fiancé and my parents because I was in a really bad spot, just to think of coming to another competition was hard.

“The Olympics takes so much out of you and I was mentally drained and then there was the added pressure that I am an Olympic silver medallist and there would be more eyes on me.

“The pointing to my head (after the race) was more to show myself and the world how much it took to get up for this. My whole squad from St Peters isn’t here with me and my coach Dean (Boxall) hasn’t been at the pool.

“I need to thank the guys who worked out with me when they really didn’t have to because they are not really training for anything right now.
“It was a mental battle that I wanted to share with my family and friends back home.

“It means everything to me to win (in Budapest). This pool holds such a special place in my heart  – it’s where I won my first World Course title in 2022 and this is my first ever short course world championship.

“Like I said earlier today, I am trying to make the most of my swimming career which is why I wanted to come and do this meet – I love representing Australia and I know it won’t last forever.

“And this is a very special team. We have so many rookies and as a team leader I am loving being around their energy. Of course I want to race well for myself but I also want to give the rookies the best experience they can have on their first senior international team.”

Lizzy Dekkers finished the night with two bronze medals – one for her 200m butterfly final and the other as part of the 4x200m free relay team which also included evergreen Leah Neale, rookie Milla Jansen and ironwoman of this meet Lani Pallister.

For Dekkers, it was the first time she had represented Australia in a relay and she didn’t know which medal made her happier.

“To finally get to stand behind the blocks and get to swim for everyone else and not just yourself is just so special,” Dekkers said.

Women’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay

• “I just wanted to be part of this relay team and swimming first I just wanted to swim fast for them,” said Leah Neale whose lead leg had the team under world record pace.
• “The biggest dream of mine has been to be in this relay … I remember watching Leah in 2016  and it’s just a dream to be here and to be part of this amazing culture,” said rookie Milla Jansen.
• “I did all my junior teams with Lizzy, Leah was my first ever roommate on a national team event camp and I’ve known Milla since she was a little spring chicken – standing out behind the blocks with them is incredible. I don’t think any of us thought we were capable … but Leah just shot out, it was wicked to watch, and Lizzy a 200 flyer into a 200 free, I just hope she keeps doing them and Milla, I can’t wait to see the rest of her career,” Pallister said.

In other results:

• Women’s 100m Freestyle Final: Rookie #862 take a bow. Milla Jansen clocked 52.36 in her first senior final to finish eighth. The 18-year-old is already a silver medallist from the 4x100m free relay, bronze medallist from tonight’s 4×200 free relay and still has the 50m event to go.
•  Women’s 50m Backstroke SemiFinal: Iona Anderson scrapped through by just 0.01 to qualify for the final on Friday. Her time of 26.25 was just enough to hold on to last spot from Japan’s Mizuki Hirai (26.26).
• Isaac Cooper, world champion in this distance in long course, is getting better with each hit out. Boasts one of the busiest programs of the meet and qualified 6^th for Friday’s final with 22.79.
• Another rookie made a statement swim, Bella Grant finishing 6^th in the 200m fly in 2:03.91.

Heats will be shown live and free on 9GEM from 7pm AEDT and finals from 3.30am on NINE AEDT.