Australian swimmer Sam Short has been forced to withdraw from the men’s 800-metre freestyle final at the swimming world championships due to a severe bout of food poisoning. The young athlete, who is 21 years old, was looking forward to competing for gold in Singapore, particularly after securing a silver medal in the 400-metre freestyle event on the first night of the championships.
Short revealed his distressing situation in an emotional Instagram post just hours before the highly anticipated final. He had already qualified for the 800m final with a remarkable time of 7:42.22, which was the second-fastest in the heats. However, shortly after a problematic hotel lunch, he fell ill with symptoms consistent with food poisoning.
In his candid social media announcement, Short expressed his disappointment: “I just wanted to let everyone know that I will not be doing the 800m final tonight after receiving medical advice.” He described the emotional toll of the decision, emphasising his eagerness to demonstrate his capabilities after extensive training.
“Extremely emotional after this decision as I was very excited to showcase what I can do and the training I have done,” he shared. He remains confident that the 800m is his best distance and lamented missing the opportunity to achieve a personal best in the race. His illness escalated rapidly following the meal, leaving him with extensive vomiting and fatigue, making it impossible to compete.
Short also mentioned that he had adhered strictly to meals provided by the hotel, underscoring that his condition had deteriorated rapidly. While he had considered competing if he showed signs of recovery, he has not experienced any improvement.
Looking forward, Short is focused on his recovery for the upcoming 4×200 relay event on Friday, expressing hope that he can contribute to his team’s success. “I am going to try my best to recover as well as possible to help my team,” he added, concluding with an apology to his supporters, saying, “Sorry Australia.”
This unfortunate turn of events marks a significant setback for Short’s ambitions at the championships, but he remains committed to his health and his team’s goals.