Breaststroker Sam Williamson announced his arrival on the world stage when he won a full set of medals at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022.

Sam, who said has been swimming since his mum and dad signed him up for lessons before he could walk, won gold in the inaugural mixed 4x100m medley at Birmingham. He then claimed silver in both the men’s 4x100m medley relay and as an individual in the 50m breaststroke. And he completed the set with a bronze in the 100m breaststroke.

But it was only in February  that Sam unleashed his full potential on his way to being crowned World 50m breaststroke champion.

And on his way to gold in Doha,  he twice broke the Australian record and swam the fourth fastest 50m time in history.

He was the fastest qualifier heading into the final and lowered his personal best and the Australian record when he touched the wall in 26.32 seconds. Sam finished ahead of Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi (26.39) and the USA’s Nick Fink (26.49). British superstar Adam Peaty was fourth.

Not long after celebrating the win, Sam was back in the water for the mixed 4x100m medley relay,where he teamed up with Brad Woodward, Brianna Throssell and Shayna Jack to claim silver in 3:43.12.

He also finished fourth in the 100m breaststroke.

Sam won the 50m breaststroke title at the 2024 Australian championships, despite swimming faster in the heats than in the final. He clocked 27.07 in his heat, but 27.16 was enough to win the final.

But it was his PB and gold in the 100m breaststroke final that cemented his first Olympic Games – stopping the clock at 58.80secs.

POP UP POD STAT:  One of three Victorians selected for Paris, Sam is mad St Kilda fan – his great grandfather Col Williamson played 165 games for the Saints from 1937-46. Sam is also studying a science degree at the University of Melbourne.