Australian Open & Trials 2026: Comebacks, Records, and Multi-Class Triumphs
The 2026 Australian Open swimming championships on the Gold Coast, followed by the Australian Swimming Trials, featured multiple event victories, comeback performances, and record-setting swims across able-bodied and multi-class categories.
Key Comebacks and Career Milestones
Sam Williamson (50m Breaststroke)
Sam Williamson won the 50m breaststroke at the Australian Open championships with a time of 27.14 seconds, retaining his title. This victory occurred 11 months after he ruptured his patella tendon in a training accident.
Williamson finished ahead of Gideon Burnes (27.40) and Grayson Bell (27.66). He stated his recovery took 10.5 months, faster than the initial 12-month best-case prognosis.
Alexandria Perkins (Butterfly and Backstroke)
Alexandria Perkins earned three gold medals at the Australian Open championships: the 50m butterfly, 100m butterfly, and 50m backstroke—an event she does not regularly train for. She also placed 5th in the 100m freestyle and 4th in the 50m freestyle, leading to an invitation to the women's 4x100m freestyle relay camp.
Kaylee McKeown (Backstroke and IM)
At the Australian Open, Kaylee McKeown won the women's 200m IM in 2:09.22, overcoming Jenna Forrester in the final 50 meters. At the trials, McKeown won the women's 200m backstroke in 2:03.98, a season-best time and the 12th-fastest performance all-time, completing a sweep of the 50m, 100m, and 200m backstroke events.
Mollie O'Callaghan (200m Freestyle)
Mollie O'Callaghan won the 200m freestyle at the Australian Open in 1:53.69, ahead of Lani Pallister (1:55.66) and Erika Fairweather (1:55.72). She expressed satisfaction with her performance and stated her ambition to achieve a personal best under 1:52.
Sienna Toohey (100m and 50m Breaststroke)
At the trials, 17-year-old Sienna Toohey won the women's 100m breaststroke in 1:05.97, a personal best and Australian age group record, becoming the first Australian woman since 2021 to break 1:06. At the Australian Open, she won the women's 50m breaststroke in 30.39 seconds, ahead of Mia O'Leary (30.75) and Lily Koch (31.25).
Able-Bodied Event Results
Men's Events
Event Key Result 50m Butterfly Kyle Chalmers won at the Australian Open in 22.77 seconds, 0.04 seconds shy of an Australian record. 100m Freestyle At the trials, Kyle Chalmers won in 47.59 seconds, a season-best. Flynn Southam placed second (47.94), Kai Taylor third (48.21). 200m Freestyle At the trials, Sam Short won in 1:45.16 (personal best). At the Australian Open, Lewis Clareburt (New Zealand) won in 1:45.57. 200m IM At the trials, William Petric won in 1:57.55, 0.06 seconds shy of the Swimming Australia qualifying time. 100m Butterfly At the Australian Open, Matt Temple won in 51.60 seconds. At the trials, Kyle Chalmers recorded a lifetime best of 51.04 in the event. 200m Butterfly At the trials, Harrison Turner was the sole swimmer under the qualifying standard (1:54.94) in prelims. 100m Breaststroke At the Australian Open, Gideon Burnes won unexpectedly in a close race, beating Bailey Lello by 0.01 seconds. Two-time Olympic medallist Zac Stubblety-Cook placed third. 50m Backstroke At the Australian Open, Russia-born Mark Nikolaev won. 100m Backstroke At the trials, Henry Allan won in 53.52 after Isaac Cooper scratched the final. 200m Backstroke At the Australian Open, Stuart Swinburn was victorious. 800m Freestyle At the Australian Open, Sam Short won with a time of 7:41. 50m Freestyle At the trials, Cameron McEvoy was the top seed entering prelims with a time of 21.14.Women's Events
Event Key Result 50m Freestyle At the Australian Open, Shayna Jack won in 24.60 seconds, ahead of Olivia Wunsch and Mollie O'Callaghan. Olympic champion Meg Harris was a non-starter due to illness. 200m Freestyle At the Australian Open, Mollie O'Callaghan won in 1:53.69. Lani Pallister placed second (1:55.66), Erika Fairweather third (1:55.72). 100m Backstroke At the Australian Open, Kaylee McKeown won in 58.06 seconds. An initial electronic timing error incorrectly displayed Mollie O'Callaghan as the winner. 100m Butterfly At the Australian Open, Alex Perkins won in 57.21 seconds. 200m Butterfly At the trials, Elizabeth Dekkers won in 2:04.95, a personal best and the 13th-fastest all-time. At the Australian Open, Lizzy Dekkers won in 2:05.39. 400m Freestyle At the Australian Open, Lani Pallister won in 3:59.36. 800m Freestyle At the trials, Lani Pallister won in 8:13.41, the fourth-fastest swim of her career. Molly Walker placed second (8:26.01, personal best). 200m IM At the Australian Open, Kaylee McKeown won in 2:09.22. 200m Backstroke At the trials, Kaylee McKeown won in 2:03.98. Iona Anderson placed second (2:07.59, personal best), Hannah Fredericks third (2:07.99, personal best).Multi-Class Event Results
Men's Multi-Class
Event Key Result 200m IM At the Australian Open, Timothy Hodge (SM9) won with 949 points, despite Ricky Betar (SM14) touching the wall first. Beau Matthews (SM10) placed third. 400m Freestyle At the trials, Callum Simpson (S8) won overall with 926 points. Brendan Hall (S9) placed second (885 points), Harrison Vig (S9) third (882 points). 100m Breaststroke At the trials, Jake Michel (SB14) won in 1:05.28 (884 points). Tim Hodge (SB8) placed second (782 points), Riley Moore (SB9) third (749 points). 100m Freestyle At the Australian Open, Rowan Crothers won the multi-class 100m freestyle in 51.18. 50m Freestyle At the trials, Jasmine Greenwood (S10) led the prelims with 28.24 (884 points).Women's Multi-Class
Event Key Result 200m IM At the Australian Open, Lakeisha Patterson (SM9) claimed victory by a single point (764) over Ikuha Nakahigashi (SM15) (763). At the trials, she won the 400m freestyle multi-class in 4:36.79 (866 points), qualifying for Para Pan Pacific Championships. 400m Freestyle At the trials, Chloe Osborn (S7) placed second (761 points, qualified), Annabelle Moloney (S10) third (703 points). 100m Breaststroke At the trials, Stephanie Bruzzese (SB14) won in 1:20.46 (717 points). Keira Stephens (SB9) placed second (681 points), Sarah Hancock (SB6) third (644 points).Technical Issue
At the Australian Open championships, a timing system error on day two initially displayed Mollie O'Callaghan as the winner of the women's 100m backstroke, before the correct result showed Kaylee McKeown as the winner in 58.06 seconds.