Elijah Winnington of Australia secured a silver medal in the men's 400 metres freestyle at the Paris 2024 Olympics, marking a significant comeback after his disappointing seventh-place finish at the Tokyo Games. Having struggled with mental health issues post-Tokyo, Winnington found redemption in Paris, finishing behind Germany's Lukas Maertens, who took gold. He described the experience as 'unbelievable' and noted that he had not previously acknowledged his prior Olympic medal due to feeling undeserving. Winnington's determination was evident as he overtook competitors, including South Korea's Kim Woo-min, during the race. This win represents Australia's first swimming medal at the Paris Games, while fellow Australian Sam Short narrowly missed the podium. Winnington plans to keep his Olympic silver medal close at hand, reflecting on its significant personal value.