Pan Pacs Finale: Dolphins sign off on historic campaign

THE DOLPHINS signed off on their most successful Pan Pacific Championships campaign tonight with 4 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze and a whole heap of newly minted belief.

In a remarkable final night in Irvine, California – Lani Pallister (pictured) defeated American legend Katie Ledecky in the 800m freestyle, Sam Short lowered Grant Hackett’s Australian record in the 1500m freestyle and Jamie Jack turned promise into a gold-standard performance in the 50m free.

The night’s haul saw Australia finish the four-day meet with 15 gold, 11 silver and 9 bronze.

And if Jack was the new top dog of sprinting – albeit without world record holder Cam McEvoy – wily old fox Zac Stubblety-Cook turned back the clock to win the 200m breaststroke final.

Stubblety-Cook touched in 2:08.09 to finish two tenths ahead of American Josh Matheny.

Coming from behind, Stubblety-Cook turned 7th at the 50 mark, jumped to 4th after the third 50, and in the final lap split the fastest 50 in the field by more than half-a-second.

His time was a mixture of relief and disbelief after managing a back injury that saw him miss the 2025 World Championships, move programs, and then put together a world-class effort on limited training.

Two years out from the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, the Dolphins blockbuster showing was a clarion call of endeavour. Headlined by Short, who won Male Swimmer of the Meet, and Pallister – this Australian swim team as a whole, is greater than the sum of its parts.

GOLDEN FINALE

Jamie Jack winner 50m free (21.35):

“It’s awesome. That’s the best I could ask for,” Jack said.

“I’ve felt very comfortable with it, honestly, which I’ve been really surprised by. Having been around such a high-quality squad back in Australia, I’m very accustomed to how it feels. I just wanted to continue my process and do what I can do and let the results show.”

Zac Stubblety-Cook winner of 200m breaststroke (2:08.09):

“To be honest, in a bit of shock. I’m pretty stoked with that result, and like gave myself a chance at 100 meters, and I thought you know, give it everything I had, and I was pretty stoked. But I still have a bit of disbelief, to be honest,” he said.

“Considering like I had seven weeks of work before Trials, so I’m really excited for what the next 24 months brings before LA.”

Lani Pallister winner 800m free (8:06.10):
Australia’s in-form middle and long distance swimmer edged out four-time Olympic champion and world record holder Ledecky by 1.16 seconds.

Pallister’s swim was a little more than a tenth off her World Championships Australian record time of 8:05.98, but was a new Pan Pacs meet record, taking three seconds off Ledecky’s 2018 record time of 8:09.13.

She has been unstoppable this season, and tonight she took down the GOAT – something only two swimmers have accomplished in the past 10 years.

“Today is the most nervous I’ve ever felt in my entire life. I was just so locked in, and I’ve been really focused on what I want. And the 800 is my favourite event. I think it’s one where it’s not too short, but it’s also definitely not too long,” Pallister said.

“It’s one that I’ve grown up loving. It’s the first kind of distance event that I got into when I accidentally entered the wrong event all those years ago now. So to have the three titles this week and be just behind Katie in the 1500 (but) … this is the one that I wanted.”

A delighted Dean Boxall also celebrated, sprinting down to give Pallister a hug as the Australian toasted a victory few would have seen coming two years ago.

Sam Short winner 1500m free (14:33.97):

He swept them in Glasgow. He’s done it again in California – claiming the 400m free, 800m free, and tonight’s 1500m free.

Short clocked a lifetime best 14:33.97 to take down Dolphins great Grant Hackett’s Australian record of 14:34.56, which had stood since 2001.

He also rewrote Hackett’s Pan Pacs Championships record of 14:41.65 from 2002. Two outstanding records set before Short was even born.

“I’ve been training a lot of the 400. I was glad I pulled that together. I executed that really well, I think. But then just then, that was just straight guts and just enjoying the race. So I’m pretty proud of that,” Short sad.

“I am proud of my consistency. You know, I’ve gone five well sub 15 minute swims now, so if I can do that here, you know, my average come Olympics World Championships, all I need to do is be my average and be contending for some podium places. “

2026 Pan Pacs Dolphins Honour Roll

GOLD (15)

• Moesha Johnson – 10km open water – 1:55:33
• Ben Armbruster – 50m butterfly – 22.75 CR
• Lani Pallister – 200m freestyle – 1:53.67 CR
• Brittany Castelluzzo – 200m butterfly – 2:06.25
• Sam Short – 800m freestyle – 7:37.02 CR
• Meg Harris – 100m freestyle – 52.60
• Women’s 4x200m freestyle (Inez Miller, Lani Pallister, Hannah Casey, Milla Jansen) – 7:42.40 CR
• Lani Pallister – 400m freestyle – 3:58.42
• Sam Short – 400m freestyle – 3:40.52 CR
• Matt Temple – 100 butterfly – 50.39 CR
• Sam Williamson – 50m breaststroke – 26.36 CR
• Jamie Jack – 50m freestyle – 21.35 CR
• Zac Stubblety-Cook – 200m breaststroke – 2:08.09
• Sam Short – 1500m freestyle – 14:33.97 CR
• Lani Pallister – 800m freestyle – 8:06.10 CR

SILVER (11)

• Lizzy Dekkers – 200m butterfly – 2:06.56
• Lani Pallister – 1500m freestyle – 15:38.62 OC
• Mixed 4x100m medley (Iona Anderson, Sam Williamson, Matt Temple, Meg Harris) – 3:39.30
• Jenna Forrester – 400m IM – 4:31.50
• Isaac Cooper – 50m backstroke – 24.59
• Men’s 4x200m freestyle (Max Giuliani, Kai Taylor, Charlie Hawke, Sam Short) – 7:01.10
• Ben Armbruster – 100m butterfly – 50.59
• Women’s 4x100m freestyle (Meg Harris, Alex Perkins, Milla Jansen, Liv Wunsch) – 3:31.11
• Men’s 4x100m freestyle (Kai Taylor, Jamie Jack, Ed Sommerville, Harrison Turner) – 3:09.57
• Women’s 4x100m medley (Iona Anderson, Ella Ramsay, Alex Perkins, Meg Harris) – 3:55.09
• Men’s 4x100m medley (Stuart Swinburn, Sam Williamson, Matt Temple, Harrison Turner) – 3:30.16

BRONZE (9)

• Harrison Turner – 200m butterfly – 1:54.44
• Ben Goedemans – 800m freestyle – 7:44.67
• Moesha Johnson – 1500m freestyle – 15:53.49
• Liv Wunsch – 100 freestyle – 52.98
• Sam Williamson – 100m breaststroke – 59.34
• Iona Anderson – 50m backstroke – 27.60
• Alex Perkins – 100 butterfly – 56.75
• Will Petric – 200m IM – 1:56.65
• Meg Harris – 50m freestyle – 23.89

*CR = Championships Record