The men's 800m freestyle is one of the most masked events of all when it comes to working out what a towering swim looks like, what with all that shiny covering to rip away.

In case anyone was in doubt, we saw towering today: a 7:36.73 from Sam Short, a Dolphin who leapt to the helm of pioneering pace over 16 lengths at the Sydney Olympic Park pool where Thorpe and Hackett made their golden Olympic debuts a quarter of a century ago.

Here's where Short's swim fits in history: World No 1 in textile behind two swims that speak volumes about a time when poly (...urethane) put the kettle on and whatever mask was being worn that day in Rome, we witnessed a 7:32 that speaks yet beyond the confines of non-textile compression:

Short's time leapfrogged the latest two Tunisian's ripping up the distance free ranks, topped by a 7:36.88 victory by Ahmed Jaoudi at World titles last year that had been the world textile best before today:

M800 Free: Jaouadi Leaves Rest In Need Of Jump Leads With 7:36 Scorcher

The new 800m World champion has travelled a steep trajectory of progress since clocking 8mins 10.34 as a 17 year old: at 18, for to 7:53.99; at 19, 7:42.07; and now at 20, 7:36.88 as the fastest ever in textile with a World title in the bank.

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

No Olympic title has been won in a faster time, the last one out a 7:38, the time in which Ireland's Daniel Wiffen made history:

M800 Free: Wiffen Washes Away The Drought With Thunderous, Historic Victory For Ireland

Wiffen kept his nerve, piled on pressure, responded to shifts in pace and tactical moves of his rivals. Whatever was needed, Wiffen had it. And then, his childhood dream of Olympic glory a length away, he drove off the wall like a killer whale coming off a fast.

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

Short's previous best, a 7:37.76, was good for silver at Fukuoka 2023 World titles ahead of then reigning Olympic champion Bobby Finke (USA), both behind Tunisia's Ahmed Hafnaoui and an astonishing 7:37 on his way to a WADA penalty for three missed tests.

Today, Short leapfrogged two Tunisians. One to go, though textile vs shiny makes it a 'not really'. Out in 1:50.80 at the 200m, Rackley's Damien Jones-coached Short reached the half way in 3:45.89: That's faster than Kieren Perkins' first 400m free World record back in 1992. At the 600m mark, Short was looking good for a sub-7:40. He then put in another couple of low 29s laps, before blasting home in 28.88 and... 27.47. Wow!

Keep in mind Rome 2009: Oussama Mellouli, home in 27.80 ... and Zhang Lin? 25.99. Inscrutable is the mystery.

The Race in Sydney

Obviously, World rank No 1 in 2026, ahead of this towering swim:

Liebmann Sinks Schwarz’s European 800 Mark In 7:37.94 For All-Time No4 In Textile

German 19-year-old Johannes Liebmann becomes fourth teen ever to break 7:40 after Ian Thorpe (18 in 2001), Sun Yang* (19 in 2011) and Sam Short (19 in 2023)

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

Short was all smiles as he emerged from the history he'd just swum.

Poolside wth Nicole Jeffery in Sydney:

First question: No mucking around, 1:50, 3.45. So, was that the plan?

"Yeah. That was the plan, 100%. You know, I got sick at last year's worlds and I watched the boys go out in like 3:48 high maybe. And I just know if I was in that final, it would be a different race. You know, I’ve got that extra speed at the start. I'm one of those guys that if I hit my tempo, I can stay there if I feel pretty fresh, and that was actually, I'm glad you told me I haven't seen my splits yet, but 3:45 on the front end, that's exactly what I wanted to do. I thought I was coming home fast than that, so there’s a bit more room to work on. PB though by second, you know, haven't done that since 2023. I think it’s only my second time sub 7:40."

Are you gonna swim the two, the four, the eight, and the 15?

"Uh... I mean, 1,500, hopefully. It's still to come, but yeah, I'd say so. It's a long competition. It's not like Pan Pacs for us crammed in the 4 days. Um, And I know in Birmingham, I didn't have to do that 800, it wasn’t an event there, but you can cruise the heats way more than, say, a Worlds or Olympics, just because there are only a select few from other countries."

What was your target tonight?

"PB. PB, yeah (Not the world record?). Oh, that 7:32, you know, I would say, arguably is the most untouchable, that with the 1:42 from Biederman. And how I swam it tonight, I think, is the only way to kind of get even close to that, you know, it's just about getting used to that uncomfortableness. But I've been aiming for that textile world record for a long time. After that 7:37 when I was 19, and that was a massive drop, I knew I had potential to get under that."

You seem like you are building for something?

"Yeah, I feel like - I was having a comment with my parents as well - I feel like I'm a much better, well-rounded athlete, like I handle a lot of stuff way better, I don't really care about feel. I've done some of my best sessions feeling, like absolute crap. I went 14:43 last year, and I was in hospital two days before that. I know even on my worst days, I can still be super competitive and, you know, just give me a good day and I'll be fantastic, up there with the best in the world. And I think I'm building into it well."

The Rest of the Final: