Sam Short Withdraws From 800m Final With Illness

Australian swimmer Sam Short has withdrawn from the men's 800m freestyle final at the 2025 World Championships in Singapore after suffering severe food poisoning, which he attributes to his hotel lunch. Short, a 2023 World Championships silver medalist in this event and the second-fastest qualifier, announced his withdrawal on Instagram and apologized to fans. He is among several athletes, including members of the U.S. and British squads, affected by a wider outbreak of gastrointestinal illness at the meet. Fellow Australian Benjamin Goedemans will take Short's place in the final. Short hopes to recover in time to compete in the 4x200m relay later in the week. The outbreak has raised concerns about athlete safety and the conditions at the championships.