Tom Decent | WAtoday

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Tom Decent is a journalist with The Sydney Morning Herald

Chinese swimmer won gold in world record time, then accused Chalmers of poolside snub

Chinese swimmer won gold in world record time, then accused Chalmers of poolside snub

Chinese star Pan Zhanle obliterated the 100m freestyle world record on Wednesday night before calling out his Australian rival.

  • by Tom Decent

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Aussie gets the last laugh as Chinese swimmer bombs out, suddenly stops talking

Aussie gets the last laugh as Chinese swimmer bombs out, suddenly stops talking

China’s Qin Haiyang speaks fluent English but has avoided questions about how a performance-enhancing drug ended up in his system.

  • by Tom Decent
Two champions, one coach, one goal: Inside the O’Callaghan-Titmus rivalry

Two champions, one coach, one goal: Inside the O’Callaghan-Titmus rivalry

If the women’s 200m freestyle goes to form, one thing stands between Mollie O’Callaghan and her dream of Olympic gold ... and that’s teammate Ariarne Titmus.

  • by Tom Decent
Why night one at the pool could be the greatest in Australian Olympic history

Why night one at the pool could be the greatest in Australian Olympic history

Australia has never won three gold medals on the same night in the pool at an Olympics. Is that about to change?

  • by Tom Decent
Swimming coach spared axe over helping Korean rival – months after he was told not to
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Paris 2024

Swimming coach spared axe over helping Korean rival – months after he was told not to

An email obtained by this masthead reveals that Australian coaches, including Michael Palfrey, were warned four months ago about links to foreign athletes.

  • by Tom Decent
‘Un-Australian’: Swim coach could be sent home for helping Korean rival
Exclusive
Paris 2024

‘Un-Australian’: Swim coach could be sent home for helping Korean rival

Michael Palfrey has been admonished by the AOC for saying he hopes a South Korean swimmer he coaches wins gold – even though he will compete against two Australians on night one at the Games.

  • by Tom Decent
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They were the last Aussies to go 1-2 in the same race. They think it could happen again – with a world record

They were the last Aussies to go 1-2 in the same race. They think it could happen again – with a world record

Sam Short and Elijah Winnington are Australia’s big gold medal hopes in the opening event of the swimming program. And it might take a world record to win it.

  • by Tom Decent
Drug testers promised to heavily target Chinese swimmers. They kept their word

Drug testers promised to heavily target Chinese swimmers. They kept their word

China’s 31 swimmers in Paris are the world’s most frequently drug tested athletes – at a rate five times higher than their Australian counterparts.

  • by Tom Decent
‘Like following Bradman into bat’: But Thompson’s forging his own path behind the mic

‘Like following Bradman into bat’: But Thompson’s forging his own path behind the mic

Ray Warren’s excited commentary was the soundtrack to a golden era of Australian swimming. Now Nine’s chief sports broadcaster Mathew Thompson is ready to follow in “Rabbits’” footsteps in Paris.

  • by Tom Decent
Dutch convicted child rapist would not be welcome on Australian team, says Meares

Dutch convicted child rapist would not be welcome on Australian team, says Meares

The selection of Steven van de Velde on the Netherlands’ beach volleyball team has been shrouded in controversy.

  • by Tom Decent
Mollie versus Arnie: The anatomy of a colossal Olympic showdown

Mollie versus Arnie: The anatomy of a colossal Olympic showdown

A deep dive into every tactic, technique and turn that goes into executing the perfect 200m freestyle race.

  • by Tom Decent, Tommy Saputra and The Visual Stories Team