‘Sorry, Australia': Short floored by food poisoning, set to miss 800m final
In a concerning development, just days after members of the United States team reported gastro issues before competition, Short announced he was pulling out of an event in which he was a major gold medal chance.
Short won a silver medal in the event at the 2023 world championships and was the second-fastest qualifier for tonight's final. He was aiming to become the first Australian to win world championships gold in the 800m freestyle since Grant Hackett in 2005.
'Just wanted to let everyone know that I will not be doing the 800m final tonight after receiving medical advice,' Short wrote on Instagram. 'Extremely emotional after this decision as I was very excited to showcase what I can do and the training I have done! I still believe this is my best race distance and I was ready for a PB.
'After an awesome heat swim which I felt phenomenal, I got very ill very fast, which we believe is food poisoning from my hotel lunch. I have only been consuming meals from the hotel. My afternoon and night has been full of vomiting and all the other nasty stuff that comes with food poisoning! Not pleasant and extremely draining.
Loading
'I had full intention of competing if I started to show signs of improvement. However, this has not happened. I am going to try my best to recover as well as possible to help my team in the 4x200 relay on Friday. Sorry Australia.'
Short picked up a silver medal on the opening night of competition in the men's 400m freestyle, just 0.02 seconds off world record holder Lukas Martens.
Australia still have a great gold medal hope on Wednesday night when Mollie O'Callaghan races in the women's 200m freestyle final.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
2 hours ago
- 7NEWS
AFL great Tom Hawkins has big day out for Old Melburnians in lowly VAFA division
As expected, AFL great Tom Hawkins has starred in a division 4 thirds competition on Saturday. The hulking Geelong champion was playing in the lowly VAFA competition at Elsternwick Park, and terrorised defenders with his size and skills. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Tom Hawkins stars in VAFA division 4 thirds. Hawkins booted the first goal of the game, then banged through another four and set up plenty. Hawkins clearly enjoyed himself and started to share it around after his four first-half goals. Some unsuspecting fans who went out to watch the clash between Old Melburnians and Mazenod, were left a little shocked when they saw the famous full-forward standing in the goalsquare for Old Melburnians. 'Hahaha, I was just down there watching this and was wondering who this enormous lad at full forward was 😂,' one fan said on social media. Others were also shocked by his sheer size (Tomahawk, who retired at the end of last year, was 197cm and 105kg during his playing days for Geelong). 'Haha looks like he's playing against under 9s. 😂,' one fan said 'Like a Great White in a fish pond 😅,' another said. And another: 'I know he's big but Geez he looks huge out there!!' Others wondered why Hawkins was playing in 'such a low quality' competition. But the answer to that question was simple: he just wanted to play with some mates. After one play, when Hawkins took a strong contested mark and then passed it to an Old Melburnians teammate, Cench Footy commented: '296 goal assists in his AFL career 👑 Never change, Tomahawk.' Hawkins is one of the all-time greats of the AFL, playing 359 games and booting 796 goals. He is a three-time premiership player, a Coleman medallist (leading goalkicker in an AFL season), and a five-time All-Australian (and was AA captain in 2022). But the goal-assist number blew people's minds, 'That stat along with almost 800 goals is absolutely wild 👏,' one fan said. Old Melburnians comfortably won the game, 116-34. The addition of Hawkins in the team was arguably an unnecessary coup, given OMs were already on top of the ladder with a massive percentage.
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
Good golly: Molly one win from title after Tahiti test
Molly Picklum is one win away from a maiden world surfing title after the Australian's fearless Teahupo'o masterclass at the Tahiti Pro. The 22-year-old booked her spot in the Tahiti final by winning three heats on Saturday (AEST) as the French Polynesia break lived up to the "psycho mode" tag adopted by organisers in the lead-up. The Australian dug deep with a late, brave 9.77-point tube to beat local hope and defending champion Vahine Fierro in the quarter-finals. Her semi-final against Caroline Marks began with both surfers hammered by a series of huge sets. Marks opted to take the ski back to the break, but the Australian paddled through it, earning her priority, which she used to poll an early eight-point ride that proved the difference in the final heat of a massive day. "I saw Caroline bail (off her board) and thought I'd try the duck dive, then I got smoked. She lost her board and I wore the next two sets on my head," Picklum said. "So I kept paddling. It ended up being a great decision ... that great wave came and (I'm) so happy I converted it." Her progression ensured the yellow jersey-holder would retain top spot ahead of Fiji's WSL Finals campaign later this month. In a recent tweak to the top-five format, the No.1 seed will only need to win the first heat in their best-of-three duel to be crowned champion. The controversial format will be canned in favour of the traditional overall points system next season. In a dramatic, high-stakes day, fellow Australian Isabella Nichols was knocked from fourth to sixth and will miss the finals. Nichols was beaten by Fierro in a narrow elimination heat loss that allowed Hawaiian Bettylou Sakura Johnson and American Marks, who won gold at the same break a year ago, to jump her. Tyler Wright, who began the event in seventh, also had her push ended by defending world champion Caitlin Simmers in the last eight. Picklum, in just her fourth Championship Tour campaign, has started finals day from fifth spot in her past two seasons. She'll meet American Simmers in the Tahiti final before turning her attention to the Cloudland finale from August 27. "She's so gnarly out here (Simmers); hopefully I can get another one up on her," Picklum said. "It's crazy ... it's started to sink in. When you're so close to achieving your dream it all gets really scary and like, 'wow this is crazy'. "But I'm so happy that I dream so big and that it scares me and makes me focus and all those beautiful things. "I'd love to win here and figure out Fiji after." Ethan Ewing and Jack Robinson, both awaiting Tahiti quarter-finals, remain in contention to represent Australia when the men's top five battle in Fiji. Stephanie Gilmore won Australia's most-recent world title, her eighth, in 2022.
Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Perth Now
Injured Petaia retained by Chargers, weighing options
Battling only a minor hamstring injury, Jordan Petaia is weighing up his options after being waived and then placed on the injured reserves list by Los Angeles. The Chargers signed the 25-year-old former Wallabies flyer on a three-year NFL deal in April as a tight end, after Petaia impressed in the International Player Pathway. He made a late cameo in the Chargers' first pre-season game last week, but didn't register a statistic. On Friday (AEST) Petaia was waived and replaced by fellow Australian and former schoolboys rugby teammate Thomas Yassmin. Sydney product Yassmin played college football at Utah and spent last season as an IPP athlete on the Denver Broncos' training squad. The Chargers on Saturday opted to place Petaia on their injured reserves list, ahead of the 53-man roster deadline this month. AAP understands the hamstring injury is only minor and that Petaia, no stranger to soft-tissue complaints in his rugby career, is treading cautiously to avoid a long-term issue. Well aware of the NFL's brutal approach to contracting, Petaia is understood to be unperturbed and assessing his options. NFL clubs can recall eight players from their injured list to play each season, although with fellow tight end Yassmin assuming the extra, designated IPP spot, it's unlikely the Chargers would dedicate a 53-man roster spot to Petaia. Atlanta, Cleveland and Kansas City had initially expressed interest in Petaia, who could be taken as an IPP athlete by a club yet to sign one. The Queensland Reds, where Petaia debuted as an 18-year-old, gave him their blessing to chase an NFL career, and have remained in close contact with the talent. But there is no formal arrangement tying Petaia to the Super Rugby club, should he seek a return to the 15-man game. Injuries, including hamstring issues, regularly interrupted his 31-Test career for the Wallabies. Yet he still became the youngest Australian to play at a Rugby World Cup. He played at a second World Cup, before giving up the chance to face the British and Irish Lions and rolling the dice on an NFL shot late last year.
