World Champs Wrap
There was no Olympics hangover when the top swimmers dived into the Budapest pool for the 2024 World Aquatics Short Course Championships. World, Championship, Oceania and National records all tumbled with blistering times posted, and plenty of prize money won! Aussie F-Teamers Max Giuliani and Isaac Cooper were the stand out performers with silver medals in their pet events.
In the Men’s 200m freestyle final, Max finished second to American Luke Hobson (1:38.61) who lowered his World Record set earlier in the meet in the 4x200m Freestyle Relay. Giuliani clocked 1:40.36 to claim the Australian and Oceania Records, and the silver medal. Max also spearheaded the Australian Men’s 4 x 200m Free Relay team, who claimed a new Australian and Oceania record (6:45.54).
Isaac Cooper had a busy schedule in Budapest, with silver in the Men’s 50m backstroke (22.49) just 0.02 seconds behind Miron Lifintsev, breaking the Australian and Oceania Record. Cooper was also the lead-off swimmer in the Mixed 4 x 50m Medley Relay where Australia broke the Australian and Oceania Record (1:36.76). Isaac and Max teamed up in the 4 x 100m Medley Relay placing 6th in 3:22.03.
The Irish contingent was led by national superstar and Funkita athlete Ellen Walshe who broke 8 Irish records throughout the meet. F-Teamers Jack Cassin and Evan Bailey made their international debut with Jack equalling former F-Teamer Brendan Hyland’s Irish record (1:53.19) finishing 16th in the Men’s 200m butterfly preliminaries. As Jack stated afterwards,
“I was honoured to be wearing the Irish colours at this competition and showcasing the talent that our small island has. I would've liked to go under the 1:53 barrier, however, I cannot complain with my performance.”
Evan swam 1:43.61 in the 200m freestyle to finish 18th overall. New F-Teamer, Polish Piotr Ludwiczak, lead off the Mixed 4 x 50m Free Relay claiming bronze and then a very exciting silver medal in the 4 x 100m freestyle. In the 50m freestyle Piotr swam 21:46 placing 27th in a very hot field. Unfortunately for Piotr he was sick during the competition having swam faster (21:23) in the weeks leading up to racing.
Congratulations to all our F-Teamers who raced at Worlds! It’s now back home for a well deserved break before starting it all again in 2025.