Brisbane teen swimmer is a selection bolter for the Tokyo Olympic Games

A Brisbane teenager who has shadowed the age records of swimming legends Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett looms as a selection bolter for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

A Brisbane schoolboy who has shadowed the age records of swimming giants Ian Thorpe, Grant Hackett and Mack Horton looms as a selection bolter for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Samuel Short, 17, is the boom 1500m prospect in the country who is rated by his coach Damien Jones as “a genuine chance’’ to swim the Olympic Games qualifying time of 14:54 minutes at the Olympic trials in June.

“He has to be top two and under the qualifying standard,’’ said Jones, the Centenary Rackley swim coach.

“His work ethic and ability to push himself under a lot of stress are his greatest attributes.’’

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Short, who will compete at the All Age national championships starting on the Gold Coast on Tuesday, said while he had the 2022 Commonwealth Games and 2024 Paris Olympics as goals, he may as well go for Tokyo. “I am close, so I may as well give it a go,’’ Short said.

“I believe I can definitely go under that time, if not go very close to it.’’

Olympic Swimming Prospect Samuel Short Picture, John Gass

In the last three years the Prince of Peace College year 12 student has bettered some age 800m and 1500m achievements by Hackett and Horton, and has been within sight of some of Thorpe’s junior times.

“Being compared to names like that makes you want to go harder. It is good to see my name next to those names,’’ Short said.

Olympic Swimming Prospect Samuel Short in the pool at Centenary Swimming Pool. Sunday April 4, 2021. Picture, John Gass

Short, who also is a champion surf life saver who will compete with Maroochydore SLSC at the nationals next weekend, said he relished working hard.

“Being a 1500m swimmer, you have to work hard to be good at it. I push myself and seeing the improvement every day is satisfying,’’ said Short, who enjoys training alongside Tom Neill who is another Olympic contender from Rackley Centenary.

Originally published as Brisbane teen swimmer is a selection bolter for the Tokyo Olympic Games