2026 WA Short Course Championships: Landmark Progress for Western Australia's Swimming Squad

At the 2026 WA Age & Open Short Course Championships held over three days last weekend, a host of state-level records and impressive personal bests were set, revealing the rise of swimming talent in the state. While not an international-caliber event, the numbers recorded here raise significant questions about the potential of young athletes and the depth of Australia's squad in the 2028 Olympic cycle. The most notable performance came in the men's 4x100m freestyle relay with a time of 3:32.66, smashing the previous record by 1.53 seconds. This achievement is not only a milestone for the relay team but also a testament to the speed and coordination of Western Australia's young swimmers. Meanwhile, Joshua Yong, a seasoned national team member, set a new All-Comers & Residential state record in the 50m breaststroke with a time of 26.61 seconds, improving by 0.21 seconds from his own previous record. These results demonstrate Yong's consistent form and clear improvements in breaststroke technique. Another highlight of the meet was the performance of Sam Carmignani. He impressed by breaking his personal best in the 100m individual medley with a time of 56.46 seconds, an improvement of over 1 second from his previous best. While this time is not yet competitive on the international stage, the magnitude of improvement is a positive signal indicating the potential of this young swimmer. In contrast, Brielle Dredge showcased her versatility by winning multiple events, including the 100m breaststroke (1:07.91), 200m IM (2:18.78), 200m breaststroke (2:26.37), and 50m breaststroke (31.04). Dredge's consistency and endurance are highlights, though her times are still shy of continental standards. The short-course meet also featured appearances by elite swimmers, notably Iona Anderson, an Olympic medalist. She competed in the 100m IM, a secondary event compared to her primary backstroke specialty. Anderson's time of 1:00.66 was not her best, but her presence at a state meet underscores the importance of maintaining form and gaining competition experience during a period without major events. This event serves as a testing ground within the athletes' training cycle. Competing in a short-course (25m) pool demands effective turn technique and underwater kicking, which cannot be fully evaluated by final times alone. Coaches may use this meet to assess technical and physical parameters specific to short-course racing. However, caution is needed when interpreting these performances. Short-course results are not directly comparable to long-course (50m) results, where Olympic records and qualifying standards are established. An athlete can excel in short course due to strong turns but may not have the same advantage in long course. Therefore, converting these results into projections for the Olympics must be approached carefully. One of the biggest blind spots in this analysis is the lack of detailed technical data. There are no metrics for stroke rate, stroke length, reaction times, or underwater distance. This makes it difficult to evaluate the swimmers' technical efficiency. We see the final times, but not how they were achieved. Looking ahead, this meet has no bearing on national team selection. It is a state-level competition, serving to test form and set benchmark times within the training process. However, the presence of athletes like Iona Anderson and Joshua Yong shows that even top-level swimmers use this meet as part of their preparation for upcoming national competitions. Overall, the 2026 WA Short Course Championships provided a clear picture of developing talent at the state level. The 4x100m freestyle relay record and Joshua Yong's record are the most notable achievements, while Sam Carmignani's performance is a standout highlight. However, a more accurate assessment of these athletes' progress requires tracking their performances in subsequent meets, particularly in long-course competition. This will help determine whether the strides made at this state meet are a solid foundation for international careers or merely a one-off burst. In summary, this meet does not shift the global swimming landscape, but it lays an important foundation for the development of swimming in Western Australia. Young athletes like Sam Carmignani and Brielle Dredge have the potential to become key figures for Australia in the future if they maintain their progress and receive proper investment. With patience and a sound development strategy, Western Australia can be proud of being a cradle of formidable swimming talent in the 2028 Olympic cycle. The lesson from this meet is that numbers can tell a story of effort, improvement, and the limits of sport.