Australia’s Elijah Winnington bided his time successfully in winning the 400m freestyle final on night three of the 2024 World Swimming Championships (25m), becoming the first Australian male to win this event at the championships since Grant Hackett won in Moscow 2002 as Winnington follows the likes of Hackett (1999, 2002) and Daniel Kowalski (1993, 1995) as Australian champions.
Winnington, coached by Dean Boxall, didn’t lead until the 375m mark as he won gold at 3:35.89, putting himself 17th on the all-time list.
“I only started training when these guys were racing at the world cup earlier this year.” Winnington said. “I am not normally at my fittest point right now so I like to take the race out strong and I knew if I did that tonight I might not have it at the end which is where I really love to come home. But really the goal was to stick with them as long as possible
“I saw Kieran out there with about 200 to go and maybe he was a bit further than I thought. I started putting the burners on maybe a little bit early but it worked out at the end
“The pointing to my head (after the race) was more to show myself and the world how much it took to get up for this.”
The race was led for 350 meters by defending champion Kieran Smith of the United States, who looked to steal the race from lane eight.
The 2022 World Short Course Championships was the last time he made a podium internationally as he returned Thursday with a silver at 3:36.31, tying fellow American Carson Foster (3:36.31) in the process.
“I am very happy with the race and finishing another season coming off the world cup,” Smith said. “It’s a really cool moment to share the podium with Carson, my fellow captain and teammate. The only thing better would be to share gold.”
Foster, who has made a name for himself in the IM events, won his first freestyle medal internationally as he has picked up this event over the last few months, swimming to the American record briefly last month in the 500 short course yards event.
Belgium’s Lucas Henveaux (3:36.71) was out-sprinted to the wall as he finished fourth ahead of France’s Roman Fuchs (3:38.31) and hometown champ Zalan Sarkany (3:38.59) of Hungary.
1500m champ Ahmed Jaouadi (3:39.32) finished seventh for Tunisia, while 2023 World Juniors champ Petar Mitsin (3:41.46) finished eighth for Bulgaria.