Samuel Short from Albany Creek Swim Club wins North West News Local Sports Star award

Australian swimming has a host of special talents who can now be glimpsed on the horizon, and one of the most prominent is a 15-year-old who this week won the North West News Local Sports Star award.

Australian swimming has a host of special talents who can now be glimpsed on the horizon, and one of the most prominent is a 15-year-old who last week won the North West News Local Sports Star award.

Samuel Short from the Albany Creek Swim Club is a young gun who is amassing an amazing list of achievements.

While it is easy to over hype a high achieving junior in any sport, there is no escaping Short’s milestones.

Last month he moved to second place on the Australian all-time 15 years category for 800m and 1500m behind the legendary Ian Thorpe.

Qld Local Sports Stars Awards red carpet photos

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This after earlier in year he zoomed past Grant Hackett’s 15 years 800m long course Queensland record and also won five medals — including three gold — at the Australian Age Swimming Championships despite a disrupted preparation due to illness.

“My ultimate goal is to represent Australia in swimming at the Olympic Games,’’ Short said.

But for a successful teenager with such a fierce desire to succeed, he is also a well balanced, smiling athlete.

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“The best part of being an elite swimmer is the friends I have made from all over Australia and in some cases the world,’’ he said.

“The other awesome aspect is that all the training results in a healthy and active lifestyle where I have been educated to eat well, train hard and enjoy the benefits of being healthy.’’

Short acknowledged his journey would not be possible without the support of his parents and close family who have sacrificed a lot in “supporting me every step of the way’’.