Aussie Ben Armbruster Using TYR Summer Championships to Showcase Talent After Worlds Miss
The cutthroat qualifying nature of swimming is rarely lost on athletes, coaches and fans. Limited spots are available to major international competitions. Hiccups in preparation are part of life. And the competition seems to get tougher on a yearly basis. So, when Ben Armbruster did not make the Australian squad for the recent World Championships in Singapore, he turned to a secondary plan, one that would allow him to showcase his talent.
This week, Armbruster (Bond University) has been a leading member of the Aussie team that is racing at the TYR Summer Championships in Irvine, California. The Dolphins call this squad their “A Team,” and many of the athletes have used the trip to Southern California to gain valuable racing experience away from home. Armbruster has used the meet to focus on the butterfly events, and generate momentum heading into the 2026 campaign.
At the Australian Trials for the World Champs, Armbruster came up shy of landing a ticket to Singapore. While he was second in the 50 butterfly, his clocking of 23.08 was behind the 22.89 of Kyle Chalmers and left him short of the qualifying standard. Meanwhile, he failed to advance out of the prelims of the 50 freestyle and placed third in the 100 butterfly, where his effort of 51.45 was behind Matt Temple’s 51.00 and Jesse Coleman’s 51.09.
One year after representing Australia at the Olympic Games in Paris, Armbruster could not compete at the biggest meet of 2025. But rather than mope, the 23-year-old recentered and targeted the TYR Championships as an opportunity to showcase his skills. He’s met his goal.
Armbruster was a semifinalist in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly at the 2024 Olympics, finishing ninth in the 100 fly in 51.17. He also handled the butterfly leg for Australia during the prelims of the 400 medley relay. Australia ended up sixth in the final.
This week, Armbruster focused on the butterfly events in Southern California, and the results were personal-best performances. He was 23.00 in the 50 fly, claiming victory ahead of American Caeleb Dressel (23.28). The Aussie also prevailed in the 100 fly, touching the wall in 50.91, more than a quarter-second ahead of the 51.24 of Aiden Hayes.
Sure, Armbruster would have preferred an appearance at the World Championships. But credit to the Australian for recalibrating and producing on a different stage, while generating momentum for the future.
