Australia’s World Champion Breaststroker Sam Williamson Celebrates Successful Return At Victorian State Championships
Australia’s world champion breaststroker Sam Williamson completed a successful comeback to racing in Melbourne last night after suffering a debilitating training accident in May last year.
The 28-year-old won his signature 50m breaststroke final on the opening night of the 2026 Mattioli Victorian State Swimming Championships to launch his long-awaited return to competition at the Melbourne Sports And Aquatic Centre.
After clocking an encouraging 27.08 in the morning heats Williamson lined up in the final full of confidence, recording 27.15 for another impressive swim, nine months after suffering a ruptured patellar tendon (that connects the knee bone to the shinbone tibia) in an agonising training accident.
Williamson (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC) had been warming up for a swimming session by doing a box jump off a run-up, among other exercises – the painful accident robbing him of the chance to defend his 50m title at last year’s Singapore World Championships.
At the time Williamson admitted “the pain was excruciating, but the pain didn’t really come anywhere near close to the immediate realisation that, that was my season done and that was me done for the foreseeable future.”
Williamson had won the 50m breaststroke gold at the 2024 World’s in Doha in a new Oceania and Australian record time of 26.32 – with his long term sights set on a second Olympics in LA28 for the debut of the 50m form strokes.
A dream that was re-ignited last night in just over 27 seconds and in front of his supportive hometown crowd.
After nine months of blood, sweat and tears through a daily rehab routine, Williamson has re-launched his assault for LA28 with his immediate sights set on the Australian team for this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Williamson saying after the race: “It’s been a pretty big nine months after unfortunately suffering (that) incredible debilitating injury late last year.
“Tonight ’m just so proud of myself and incredibly proud of the team I’ve got behind me and just getting back up on the blocks tonight was a huge effort.
“I’m now looking forward to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow…that’s the goal.”
More to come….
