Paris 2024: Aussie major medals hope’s Olympics campaign crushed in shock

Australian multi-medal hope Sam Short has crashed out of the Paris Olympics in dramatic fashion after failing to reach the 1500m final.

NCA. PARIS FRANCE 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES. July 29 - Day 3. Sam Short in action during the Heats of the MenÕs 800m Freestyle at the Paris La Defense Arena Picture: Adam Head

Sam Short’s heartbreaking Olympic Games debut is over.

The world champion who entered the Paris Olympics as one of Australia’s multi-medal hopes in the pool has departed in devastating scenes after failing to make the final of the 1500m freestyle.

Short started strongly with the leaders but faded over the second half of the race to touch the wall in seventh place in a time of 14:58.15 to be ranked 13th overall and almost 13 seconds off making the final.

It was a bitterly disappointing end for a swimmer who came into Paris with such high hopes after winning gold, silver and bronze medals in the 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle at the 2023 world titles.

He was the No.1 ranked swimmer in the 800m freestyle this year but failed to reach the final in both long distance events.

It is unclear exactly what has gone so horribly wrong for the 20-year-old in Paris because both he and his coach Damian Jones have refused to talk to the media the entire duration of the event.

Sam Short was disappointing in Paris. Picture: Adam Head

It’s an indictment on the swim team that neither athlete nor coach are willing to explain what has gone so horribly wrong after talking so confidently about their expectations in Paris.

Officials are adamant there are no health issues impacting his performance, refusing to blame the illness he suffered prior to the Olympic trials.

He was also slated to be a gold medal contender in the 400m freestyle as the 2023 world champion, but finished fourth and missed the bronze medal by just 0.14s.

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In a somewhat controversial scenario, it was South Korean Kim Woo-min who claimed the bronze medal after it was revealed just days earlier he had been secretly training with and getting advice from Australian swim team coach Michael Palfrey.

Short was one of the swimmers Taylor spoke with just 48 hours before the Games to help decide whether Palfrey should be sent home and banished from the Australian team.

If there is nothing physically wrong with Short then questions must surely be asked of his mental preparation and whether Swimming Australia’s handling of the Palfrey saga on the eve of the Games contributed to several poor performances by leading men in the pool.

Breaststroker Sam Williamson, who doesn’t train under Palfrey but was assigned him as his team coach in Paris, failed to progress out of the heats of the 100m breaststroke despite swimming at time at the Olympic trials that would’ve won him the gold medal here in Paris.

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Originally published as Paris 2024: Aussie major medals hope’s Olympics campaign crushed in shock