How Sam Short and Daniel Wiffen Match Up for the 2026 Commonwealth Games
With the Commonwealth Games coming up in just a couple of weeks, the men’s 800 and 1500 freestyles could emerge as two of the best races of the meet. Sam Short, the 22-year-old from Australia, and 24-year-old Daniel Wiffen of Ireland have proven to be two of the top distance swimmers in the world over the last few years.
Four years ago, at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the two faced off in the 400 and 1500 freestyle, with Short beating Wiffen both times. Since the meet in Birmingham, the two have taken off in the distance swimming history books. They have faced off numerous times since 2022, specifically at the 2023 World Championships. In Fukuoka, Short beat Wiffen in the 800 by 1.5 seconds and by 4.7 seconds in the 1500. Wiffen, however, enjoyed his breakout moment in 2024, when he became the Olympic gold medalist in the 800 free.
What will this summer bring?
800 Freestyle
The 800 free is shaping up to be the better race of the two. It is the perfect middle ground when it comes to strengths. Short is better at shorter distances, currently ranking No. 1 in the world at the 400. Wiffen leans more to the longer side. He is one of the best ever at the 1500 and even competed in the open water event at the 2024 Olympics.
Short should take the race out fast. At the 2026 Australian Trials, he went out in 3:45 at the 400, which is three seconds faster than Wiffen went out in his best 800. Both own some of the fastest 800s of all-time, with Short ranked third and Wiffen ranked seventh.
The two have extremely different trials results. Short put together one of the greatest distance meets that has ever been seen on the men’s side. Wiffen, on the other hand, struggled. His time of 7:58.08 was over 20 seconds slower than Short at the Australian Trials. Notably, Wiffen went out in 7:50 in the first 800 of his 1500. The 1500 was four days before the 800. A long meet with most likely little to no rest could be the reason why Wiffen’s 800 was not what was be expected. With both being fully rested for the Commonwealth Games, it should lead to an extremely close matchup and one of the most exciting distance races of the summer.
1500 Freestyle
The 1500 should suit Wiffen a little more than Short. With Wiffen’s best time at 14:34.0 and Short’s best at 14:37.2, it should be an extremely close race for a 1500. Like every race he swims, Short likes to take the 1500 out fast. Short took his best out in 7:45.1, equal to the world record pace of Bobby Finke. Recently at the Australian Trials, he went out in 7:42.7.Wiffen, in his best, took the race out in 7:45 as well. The two should be flipping below or close to the world record split at the 800.
Wiffen’s 1500 was one of his better swims during the Irish Trials, where he posted a 14:51.4. The 1500 will come on the last day of the meet. After logging significant meters at that point, it will come down to who is fitter. The Commonwealth Games record of 14:41.66 set by Kieren Perkins at the 1994 Games is in jeopardy.
The two have had low moments at big meets. Both pulled out of the 2025 World Championships, Wiffen with appendicitis and Short with food poisoning. Short also had lower-than-expected performances at the 2024 Olympics, where he finished fourth in the 400 free, ninth in the 800 free and 13th in the 1500 free. If both are in peak form, which Short has shown most recently, then the 800 and 1500 freestyle have the potential to be two of the best distance races this summer.