Men’s 800 Freestyle and Women’s 1500 Freestyle to Debut at Commonwealth Games
Five years after they made their Olympic debuts at the Tokyo Games, the men’s 800-meter freestyle and women’s 1500 freestyle will be contested at the Commonwealth Games for the first time. The competition is scheduled for next month in Glasgow, Scotland, and the impending inclusion of the men’s 800 free and women’s 1500 free will bring the Commonwealth Games in line with the programs of the Olympics and World Championships.
Sam Short will be the favorite in the men’s 800 freestyle after recently clocking the third-fastest time in history at the Australian Selection Trials for the Commonwealth Games and the Pan Pacific Championships. Short turned in a time of 7:36.73 at the Sydney Aquatic Centre, the fastest performance of all-time in a textile suit. Short was sensational at the Aussie Trials, claiming titles in the 200 freestyle, 400 freestyle, 800 freestyle and 1500 freestyle.
In the women’s 1500 freestyle, Aussie Lani Pallister will be the favorite to capture the inaugural gold medal in the event. Pallister won the event at the Aussie Trials in 15:40.01, a mark that was less than a second off her career best of 15:39.14.
When the distance events made their debuts at the Olympics in Tokyo, Americans Bobby Finke (800 freestyle) and Katie Ledecky (1500 freestyle) secured gold medals.