Short sets U.S Open record in 400m freestyle final
Australia's Sam Short set a lifetime best, U.S. open and championship record in the men's 400m freestyle final at Pan Pacific Championships.
Video Transcript
Sam Short, Rowdy, has looked good.
He's been hot.
Swept the 400, the 800, and the 1500 free golds at the Commonwealth Games a couple of weeks ago in Scotland.
Aaron Shackle, well, trying to see if he can continue his growth here at Pan Pacs.
The American who swam in Paris at age 19, now at 21.
He was part of a solid relay gold medal in the 4 by 200 re- free relay for team USA here at this event.
Two fastest swimmers in the world in 2026 right next to each other.
There's Shackle who was just brilliant on the relay, 800 relay last night.
Had a chance to chat with him earlier.
Take your mark.
Told him how I know his dad and mom are very proud of him.
I know Nick, his father, very well.
But I think this is all Sam Short.
I, you know, I said maybe, you know, we, we talk world record.
I Where are we gonna see a world record?
And I said, "I think he, he's got a shot."
I mean, he's the f- fifth fastest swimmer in the world, I mean, in history, right?
But his best time, right, he's the fifth in, in history, is only s- half a second, a little over a half a second slower than the world record.
And he went that time this year.
So, could have a shot.
He's gotta be 1:47 plus, I think, at the 200.
1:47.5's the world record split at the midway point.
Well, as you alluded to, Rowdy, lanes four and five, Short and Zhang, one and two in the world this year.
And in fact, the 19-year-old from China is still the world junior record holder.
Set that mark November of last year when he was still junior eligible, and then he exceeded it again with that second-best time in the world from March earlier this year.
I think when you look at it in the big picture, this race is the most valuable for the guy right above Sam Short, and that it's Aaron Shackle.
21 years of age, knowing h- he's against one of the best to have ever done it.
He's gonna get pushed.
He may end up fading at the end.
Whatever the case is, this is a great, great tool to be able to learn from a guy like Sam Short.
1:47.5 world record split, 1:48 flat, so he's gonna have to really do it on the second half, and that's the thing.
You, you can't lose the patience of the middle 200, but you've gotta have that controlled aggression last 125, maybe even the last 150.
He's gotta get going right away here.
Once he comes into this turn, he's gotta have some momentum, and then he's gotta get after it.
I mean, if you're looking ahead a little bit, 2:15.8.
2:159, so he's right on it.
Sam Short, again, his pedigree, 2023 his best season on the podium in all three of his signature events.
Gold in the 400, silver in the 800, bronze in the 1500.
Missed the podium in all three at the Olympic Games in Paris dealing with illness, working through some injury.
Back with silver in the 400 at Worlds last summer.
Pan Pacs gold in the 800.
Looking like he's cruising to another gold here.
What about the clock?
Three-tenths.
He's three-tenths of a second off the world record.
And the great thing about this race, if he breaks this world record, is that first 100.
He kind of let the adrenaline flow through that first hundred.
That got him through it, and then he was able to take off after this.
3:12.3.
3:12.5.
I mean, he's right on it.
Right on it.
Only one person in history has ever broken 3:30, or 3:40.
Can he put together a furious final 50?
The crowd here in Irvine trying to boost him on.
They see the clock.
They know what's at stake.
Sam Short gonna grab gold.
Can he take the world record down as well?
The Australian to the wall.
It's gonna be a championship record here.
3:40.52 for Sam Short.
It is a new lifetime best, and it's also a US Open record as well, the fastest time ever swum in a US pool.
Sam Short with another stupendous performance here in the 400 free.
And how about Aaron Shackle?
3:43.4.
This dude has come through here in Irvine.
He goes his best time by a second and a half.
He almost broke the American record by Larsen Jensen, which was set, what, 18 years ago, right, Jason?
Yeah, that's 3:42.7.
Hey, let's not take anything away from Sam Short.
I said he had a shot at the world record.
He had a shot all the way through.
He was right on that world record pace starting about the 150.
Just missed it at the end, but this is one of these guys that could be the guy to beat when we get to LA.
But again, what a swim for that youngster right there, Aaron Shackle, to go 3:43.
That pops him into the top six in the world this year.
Sam Short, just like in the 800, taking it to the field here in the 400 championship, and a US Open record for the Australian dynamo.
Zhang there in silver position.
Bronze for Aaron Shackle with a personal best.
Let's go to Kaitlin Sandeno, American Olympic and world gold medalist, with the interview.
Congratulations, Sam.
You were on absolute fire.
Day one, you dominate the 800 freestyle.
Last night, you put on an epic anchor leg for your relay.
And then tonight, 3:40.52.
What's going on in your mind right now?
Oh, geez, I Hot field, you know, junior world record holder in the race.
Aaron I knew was gonna be on fire after his 200 split last night, so I really put it on the line.
And I thought, I thought that was the one.
I thought I was going 3:39.
I had so much left to the end, but, you know, PB, can't complain.
Beat Thorpey's meet record.
Yes.
I think that's older than me.
So And I also think he did it in DT, so it's about time he, it, that went.
How much does it mean to you to break, to break Ian Thorpe's record, such a legend, for your country?
Oh, he's my, one of my heroes growing up.
I've watched every single one of his races.
Unfortunately, I couldn't actually find this meet record on YouTube, so- he's an absolute animal, you know.
Put him in this race, who knows what he'd do, and now it's all the technology.
But I'm just happy I can put, you know, replace him.
And hopefully he watched as well.
I love the trash talking with the icon, Ian Thorpe.
Everybody, Sam Short from Australia, the champion that just keeps coming back after a p- after event, after event.
Congratulations, Sam.
