Budapest 2024, Day 3 Finals: Elijah Winnington Wins 400 Free as Americans Tie for Silver
A men’s 400 freestyle final that excluded some big names shaped up to be a thriller Thursday in Budapest. Just how intriguing it proved to be may even have exceeded those lofty expectations.
Australian Elijah Winnington got to the wall first with a winning time of 3:35.89 at the 2024 World Short-Course Championships at Budapest’s Duna Arena. But he had to pry the title away from reigning champion Kieran Smith, who didn’t go quietly in an outside lane. The result was him sharing silver with countryman Carson Foster.
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In a meet full of world records, this race’s speed didn’t get close. But it had plenty to recommend it as among the most memorable races of the meet.
Smith, who won this event in Melbourne in 2022, snuck into the final in the eighth and final spot. From an outside lane, the American veteran resolved to go for it and see what happened at the end. He was first at every wall from 50 meters to 350. Only a final-50 charge by Winnington dropped him to silver. Smith’s hand met the wall at the same instant as Foster, both in 3:36.31, though they’d taken about opposite journeys there.
Winnington was the stalking horse, fourth at 150 meters and third at 300 until making his move. His final 50 was 26.44, to Smith’s 27.11 as he clung to his lead. Winnington, the silver medalist in Paris in this event, got to the wall first to claim his first World Short-Course Championships medal. He won the 400 free at long-course Worlds in 2022.
“I’m not at my fittest point right now,” Winnington said. “I came out strong and I knew if I did that tonight I might not have it at the end, which is where I really had a tough time. I saw Kieran out there at 150 to go. He was maybe further than I thought, so I started putting the burners on maybe a little bit early, but it worked out in the end.
“This pool holds a special place in my heart. This is where I won my first world title in 2022 long-course.”
Foster went the other way ‘round. He was eighth at the 100, sixth at the 200 and fourth at the 300. He closed in the best final 50 of the bunch, in 26.08. It’s Foster’s ninth career Short-Course Worlds medal, the five individual accolades coming over three different events.
“This was my first time swimming this race internationally, so I think I’m still learning how to do it,” Foster said. “But I looked up at the scoreboard, I was like, oh, second, and I immediately looked to see what Kieran got, we were tied, so what a way to end the night, I’m super proud of that swim. I think my coaches prepared me really well, and I think swimming with Bob has set me up to swim well in this event, and so I think the more reps I can get internationally, the better I’m going to get.”
Smith, part of the gold-winning American male 400 free relay, has eight career Short-Course Worlds medals.
“I’m very happy,” Smith said. “It was a really cool moment to share the podium and the silver with Carson. The time was OK. It wasn’t my best, but I’m coming off of Paris, I took a big break to enjoy the race, and I’m really happy to having a good time here, and being with this fantastic team.”
The unlucky contender was Belgium’s Lucas Henveaux. The Cal grad finished fourth in 3:36.71, four tenths behind the Americans. Henveaux was running second to Smith as late as the 325 and turned for home in fourth. Foster was .45 seconds quicker than him on just the final 25 despite Henveaux’s final 5 clocking in at 26.97.
Frenchman Roman Fuchs led the rest home in a distant fifth in 3:38.21. Home-country hope Zalan Sarkany finished sixth ahead of 800 free champ Ahmed Jaouadi.
