Madison Wilson
Madison Maree Short, is a former Australian competitive swimmer who has participated in backstroke and freestyle events at the Olympic Games and the FINA world championships. Wilson has been a member of six world record Australian relay teams, most recently at the 2022 Short Course World Championships.
Early and personal life
Although born in the South West Queensland town of Roma, Wilson grew up in Yeppoon on the Capricorn Coast where she attended Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School and swam with local swimming club Yeppoon Sharks where she was selected in her first Queensland team.Wilson is married to Australian cricketer Matthew Short. The couple have a son, Austin Wilson Short.
Swimming career
Wilson won two medals as a member of Australian relay teams at the 2014 FINA World Swimming Championships in Doha, Qatar: a silver in the women's 4×100-metre medley relay, and a bronze in the women's 4×200-metre freestyle relay.At the 2015 World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, Russia, Wilson won three medals: a gold as a member of the winning Australian team in the women's 4×100-metre freestyle relay; a silver in the women's 100-metre backstroke; and a bronze in the women's 4×100-metre medley relay.
At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Wilson represented Australia in the 100 m backstroke, where she finished 8th in the final. However, as a heat swimmer for the 4x100metre freestyle and medley relay teams, she received a gold and a silver medal after the teams placed first and second in their respective finals.
In recognition of her success at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Wilson was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2017 Australia Day Honours.
Wilson again swam in the heats of the women's 4x100metre freestyle event at the 2020 Summer Olympics alongside Mollie O'Callaghan, Bronte Campbell and Meg Harris in July 2021, with the team posting the fastest qualifying time of 03:31:73. However, Wilson and O'Callaghan did not swim in the final with Emma McKeon and Cate Campbell selected to compete instead, taking the Australian relay team to victory. As heat swimmers, Wilson and O'Callaghan are still Olympic gold medal recipients.
World records
Long course metres
split 1:56.73 ; with Ariarne Titmus, Brianna Throssell, Emma McKeonsplit 52.25 ; with Jack Cartwright, Kyle Chalmers, Mollie O'Callaghan
split 1:56.27 ; with Kiah Melverton, Mollie O'Callaghan, Ariarne Titmus
Short course metres
split 51.28 ; with Mollie O'Callaghan, Meg Harris, Emma McKeonsplit 1:53.13, with Mollie O'Callaghan, Leah Neale, Lani Pallister
split 23.32 ; with Mollie O'Callaghan, Chelsea Hodges, Emma McKeon