‘Absolutely insane’: Harris wins first gold as Short digs deep after hospital visit

Singapore: Meg Harris is so used to winning relay gold medals that when she stood atop the podium alone on Sunday night, she didn’t know what to do with her hands.

Usually, the 23-year-old has her long sprinter’s arms wrapped around teammates, belting out the national anthem.

But on the final night of the world swimming championships in Singapore, Harris finally had her solo moment in the sun, a day after Cam McEvoy solidified his standing as the world’s fastest man through water.

Australia is officially the sprint swimming capital of the world after Harris won her first individual world title with victory in the women’s 50m freestyle – eyes closed the whole way.

It was Australia’s eighth and final gold medal of the meet, before the United States edged ahead with a world record in the women’s 4x100m medley relay to top the medal tally.

Jenna Forrester’s silver in the 400m individual medley and a runner-up finish for the Dolphins in that final relay were highlights in their own right, while Sam Short’s fourth in the 1500m freestyle was arguably the gutsiest swim of the week, after a stint in hospital with gastro.

Meg Harris wins gold in the women’s 50m freestyle at the world swimming championships.

Harris, who won silver in the 50m freestyle at the Paris Olympics, became the first Australian woman to claim the world title since Bronte Campbell in 2015. She was 0.24 seconds clear by the time she touched the wall and appeared to mouth “what the f—?” before covering her mouth and laughing.

In a strong field that did not feature Paris gold medallist Sarah Sjostrom, Harris, the quiet achiever of the Dolphins team, sneaked one breath in as she motored through the water, even though she’d trained not to.

“I’m stoked,” Harris said. “I’m sure I’ll process it later, but I’m so happy. That’s the most fun I’ve had in a race.”

Short, who trains alongside Harris, watched her swim from the marshalling room ahead of his own 30-lap battle.

“It was absolutely insane,” Short said. “She said to me, ‘imagine if we both win gold’. I was thinking ‘jeez that’s going to be a tough ask for me’. But I wanted to pull my weight. She has worked so hard.”

While Harris, McEvoy, Mollie O’Callaghan and Kaylee McKeown all claimed individual golds in Singapore, as well two from Moesha Johnson in the open water, Short left the meet with a trio of what-ifs.

He missed gold in the 400m freestyle by 0.02 seconds, was forced to withdraw from the 800m due to illness, and fought bravely for fourth in the 1500m final, clocking 14:43.08 — the second-fastest time of his career.

Short had to cancel lunch plans with his parents at a Singapore pub on Saturday, convinced he’d be too battered by illness to even qualify for Sunday’s final.

Sam Short in action for Australia in Singapore.

“It’s been a pretty horrible week, to be honest,” said Short, who lost three kilograms while sick. “The 800 heat felt phenomenal and the next two days were horrible.

“I couldn’t really leave my bed. I was just throwing up and had really high temperatures. I was really down the dumps. I’m just stoked to get in the final.

“14:43 is a pretty good time after the week I’ve had.”

Head coach Rohan Taylor added: “That was unbelievable. He’s a fighter.”

With Australia’s men’s medley team failing to make the final, it was up to the Dolphins’ women to try and land a final blow on the USA.

With the men’s medley relay team failing to make the final, it was left to McKeown, Ella Ramsay, Alex Perkins and O’Callaghan (3:52.67) to chase one last gold for the Dolphins. But the Americans, anchored by Torri Huske, were too strong, taking the title in 3:49.34.

O’Callaghan, stuck on 11 world championship golds, will now have to wait until Budapest 2027 to surpass Ian Thorpe’s Australian record.

Silver medallists team Australia pose on the podium after the women’s 4x100-metre medley relay final

There were more memorable moments on the final night: France’s Leon Marchand claimed gold in the 400m individual medley, though fell short of his own world record.

Summer McIntosh won her fourth gold of the meet in the same race. If McIntosh were a country, she would have finished fourth on the medal tally.

And 12-year-old Chinese sensation Yu Zidi, turned heads again with another fourth-place finish but did become the youngest medallist at an international swimming meet in 89 years after helping China to a relay medal as a heat swimmer.

Forrester’s silver medal — shared with Japan’s Mio Narita — was especially sweet after she missed the final in Paris.

Summer McIntosh and Jenna Forrester hug it out after their 400m individual medley final.

“I was honestly just in disbelief. That was crazy,” Forrester said. “I feel like it’s been a really tough two years. I’m super proud of myself.”

The USA pipping Australia on the medal tally will be salt in the wound but it was one of those weeks, with illness affecting both camps.

Australia could have won more and the same could also be said for the USA. With no Ariarne Titmus, Kaylee McKeown dropping the 50m backstroke, and Short robbed for the chance for supremacy in the 800m freestyle, there were golds left on the table in the first major international swimming competition since the Olympics.

There was also a bad mixed 4x100m freestyle heat that Australia will learn from.

The Dolphins’ haul of eight golds wasn’t quite the 13 they collected in Fukuoka in 2023, but it remains their second-best world championship return since 2007.

“There was a lot of turmoil through the week but I think we handled it well,” Taylor said.

“Obviously, we were one gold medal short [of the USA]. It’s nice for it to come down to the last relay. We did our best but they were too good on the day. It makes us more hungry.

“Jenna Forrester getting back on the podium is a great story. Harrison’s Turner’s bronze from lane eight. Jeez, that 800 freestyle final with Lani [Pallister] was special.

“The relays at the beginning were great. Sienna Toohey making a semi-final. Each moment was special to me.”