Sam Short Dominates 800m Freestyle at 2026 Pro Swim Series, Finke Eyes Future Focus

Australian swimmer Sam Short delivered a commanding performance in the men’s 800-meter freestyle at the 2026 TYR Pro Swim Series in Westmont, Illinois, defeating Olympic champions Bobby Finke of the United States and Daniel Wiffen of Ireland. Short finished with a time of 7:40.98, establishing a significant lead early in the race Westmont Today.

Short’s Dominant Performance

Short was over four seconds ahead of his competitors at the 250-meter mark and continued to extend his advantage throughout the race, ultimately securing a decisive victory. His time underscores his growing prominence in the long-distance freestyle events. Westmont Today.

Finke’s Race and Future Plans

Olympic champion Bobby Finke finished second with a time of 7:58.00. This marked Finke’s first time competing in both the prelims and finals of the 800m freestyle at an in-season competition, and he acknowledged it resulted in one of his slower times. SwimSwam.

Following the competition, Finke addressed his future racing plans, specifically regarding the 500 and 1000-yard freestyle events. When asked about potentially returning to those distances, Finke stated he “didn’t really see it in [his] future.” SwimSwam.

Event Details

The 2026 TYR Pro Swim Series – Westmont took place from Wednesday, March 4th, to Saturday, March 7th, at the FMC Aquatic Center in Westmont, Illinois. The event featured long course meter (50-meter) races and was live-streamed with video captured by Barry Revzin. SwimSwam.

Key Records

As of the event, the world record in the men’s 800-meter freestyle stands at 7:32.12, set by Lin Zhang of China in 2009. Bobby Finke holds the American record at 7:38.67 and the U.S. Open record at 7:40.34, both achieved in 2023. swmeets.com.