Decorated Dolphins headline record Australian Short Course Championships

REJUVENATED, refreshed and ready.

A quartet of Australia’s most successful swimmers from 2026; Lani Pallister, Alex Perkins, Flynn Southam and Elijah Winnington headline this week’s Australian Short Course Championships in Sydney.

A record number of athletes – 801, a 28 per cent increase in numbers from last year, have entered the four-day meet from September 29 to October 2 at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre (SOPAC) which also act as selection trials for December’s 2026 World Short Course Championships in Beijing.

Leading the charge at SOPAC are the in-form Pallister, Perkins, Southam and Winnington – senior Dolphins who recorded dominate performances across Australia’s record-breaking Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and Pan Pacific Championships in California.

LANI PALLISTER, THE IRONWOMAN:

Pallister, 24, will again race a chain of events – lining up for the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle on the back of an outstanding season that saw her capture four gold medals in Glasgow, becoming the inaugural women’s 1500m free champion and setting a Games record in the 800m free (8:11.12) to break Ariarne Titmus’ previous mark.

Pallister, the defending 800m short course world champion from 2024 and also short course 800m world record holder, also created history in Irvine, California last month by handing GOAT and USA champion Katie Ledecky her first international defeat in the 800m free since 2012.

Flash quotes:
“I wouldn’t necessarily say there’s expectations on times this week … I want to qualify for the events that are a staple of my program, and I think the biggest goal for me this year is going back to a world championship and defending my title in the 800m (freestyle). I’d won it my first year in 2022 and then backed up in 2024, so, to have the opportunity to go three would be absolutely unbelievable.”

When asked about if she has any interest in racing open water: “I’d love to be part of the (4x1500m) relay, I think that would be incredibly special to be able to go from the open water relay to the pool.”

“I’ve thought about going and participating in January over in Western Australia at the 2027 Australian Open Water Nationals, no chance of doing the 10km … but doing some other events like the 5km, the (3km) knockout, the relay.”

ALEX PERKINS, FLYING HIGH:

Perkins went to Glasgow Commonwealth Games seeking her first individual gold medal – and returned home with five gold: 50m and 100m fly, women’s 4x100m free relay, women’s 4x100m medley relay, and mixed 4x100m free relay.

It was in Glasgow 12 years ago when Australia’s most successful Olympian Emma McKeon announced herself on the global stage with four gold and two bronze medals and while they are big strokes to fill, Perkins has been identified by head coach Rohan Taylor as one to watch.

Taylor said: “Alex Perkins is someone that’s been coming along. I mean, after Emma (McKeon) retired from the fly, it was a long way before we thought we were going to get somebody down to an Emma, but geez, Alex has really filled the void and she’s versatile with her freestyle. She’s someone that has really put the work in over the last few years and one to look out for.”

Flash quotes:
Perkins said: “It’s been a bit of a short turnaround, coming off the end of our campaigns of Comm Games and Pan Pacs, and then into this meet. But you know, I wouldn’t miss it. I love racing short course … I’ll just try and do my best here and hopefully get a spot on that (world championships) team.”

“Sagey (Coach Michael Sage) just really backs our whole team. He backs me as a person as well, and I think that just has given me the confidence to go out there and see what I’m capable of.

“I think the training style that we’ve adapted to over the past couple years has been huge for my momentum … and the results I’ve been able to achieve.”

When asked about Swimming Australia’s new event Swim GP: “(It’s) similar to Aus v The World last year and I think it’s really fun to bring a team together in a bit of a different format than we’re used to. Leading into worlds it will be really good race prep and to just have a bit of fun with a different team.”

FLYNN-TASTIC SOUTHAM:

Flynn Southam became the first Australian in almost 10 years to dethrone “King” Kyle Chalmers to win the 100m freestyle at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The 21-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough Commonwealth Games, in addition to the 100m gold – and Games record – Southam also claimed 4 x 100m freestyle relay gold, mixed 4x100m free gold, men’s 4x100m medley and a 50m freestyle silver.

No longer under the radar, at this meet Southam will contest the 50m, 100m and 200m free.

Flash quotes:
“You’re only as good as your next race … and I am definitely not satisfied yet. I’ve learnt in the past year that you can do the work, you can do everything right, all the one-per-centres, be a perfectionist and there’s still a big chance you can stuff up.”

“You can tighten up on the day or miss a turn … so I’ve embraced that dance-with-the-devil mindset … but this time around I do know I am the hunted.

“I think that win for me over Kyle Chalmers really solidified myself as the next thing in Australian swimming, but also international swimming … Kyle was one person on the list, but there’s plenty more to go and that’s where my mindset is at at the moment.

“The 100m free in Australia at the moment is the best it’s ever been, and internationally it’s the best it’s ever been. The bar’s getting set higher each year, so I want to be a part of that and I want to win that.”

When asked where the 200m freestyle event sits for him: “The 200m free is not dead at the moment. I still have a lot of unfinished business with the 200m, especially long course 200m as well. But the goal at the moment is to get an unbelievably fast 50m in the 100m freestyle and take that to the international competition.”

ELIJAH WINNINGTON, LANE CHANGE:

A refreshed Winnington, 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 400m Olympic silver medallist from Paris and 400m silver medallist from the Commonwealth Games has swapped programs and coaches – from Dean Boxall at St Peters to Tim Lane at Somerville, where he will train with great mate Cam McEvoy.

Flash quotes:
“I have just started with Tim (Lane) but we’ve had a few chats and are confident we can change middle distance swimming the way Cam (McEvoy) has done with the sprints. It’s a leap of courage and it starts all here at SOPAC this week – we are two years out from LA but in a way, this four-day meet is really the start of my 2028 campaign. And I can’t wait.”

“We’ve been talking about developing something new, like he did with the 50m (freestyle) for middle distance swimming, and we’ve been back and forth for the past few years really chatting things through, and it came time at the end of this year … with two years to go (until LA 2028).

“I have big goals coming into LA, and I knew I wasn’t going to achieve them if I just stayed doing what I was doing. So, I made the move, and Tim, Cam, and I really are developing something really, really special, and something that I know that hasn’t been done before in the business ever. So, it’s going to be really special.”

In a Sporting September Spectacular for Sydney Olympic Park that includes the NRL grand final on Sunday: Australia’s brightest and rising swim stars return to SOPAC with the support of the NSW Government, through the NSW Office of Sport.

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said: “The NSW Government is proud to support this week’s Australian Short Course Championships at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.”

“With selection for the 2026 World Short Course Championships in Beijing on the line, fans will get to see Australia’s best swimmers and some of the country’s emerging talent competing at the highest level.

“The Championships are part of an exciting week of sport at Sydney Olympic Park, alongside the NRL Preliminary Final and Sunday’s NRL Grand Final, giving fans the chance to see some of Australia’s best athletes competing right here in Sydney.”

Deputy Secretary Adam Berry, from NSW Office of Sport, said: “New South Wales Office of Sport is super excited to be supporting Swimming Australia, bringing the Australian Short Course Championships back to Sydney Olympic Park. It’s a venue steeped in history.”

“I know the swimmers love to come here, and they’ve shown that by turning out in force. I understand we’ve got, more entrants than there’s ever been at an Australian Short Course Championships, and more New South Wales athletes, which I love.”

“Olympic sports are so important for what they do for communities. It’s not just about swimming in the pool, it’s also about what we get in terms of coach development, official development, and there’ll be a quite a lot of that happening this week as well.”

The 2026 Australian Short Course Championships are also forecast to deliver significant benefits beyond the pool, contributing an economic impact of more than $2.5 million and generating more than 10,000 visitor nights for the NSW economy.