Elijah Winnington wins gold in men's 400m freestyle

Australia has achieved its most successful night of the World Short Course Championships in Budapest so far ― headlined by Elijah Winnington's gold medal in the men's 400m freestyle final.

Youngster Lizzy Dekkers also claimed an individual bronze in the women's 200m butterfly final before helping the women's 4x200m freestyle relay team to third place.

Having claimed silver at the Paris 2024 Olympic Olympics, Elijah Winnington returned to the top step of the dais on the short course stage with a personal-best time of 3:35.89.

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In celebration, Winnington sat up on the lane rope and pointed to his head in a sign he had conquered his post-Olympic demons after falling agonisingly short of the gold medal in France's capital.

Elijah Winnington sends a message to onlookers after taking out the men's 400m freestyle final at the World Short Course Championships. Nine's Wide World of Sports

In a perfectly timed race, Winnington hit the front on the penultimate lap before racing away from Americans Carson Foster and Kieran Smith.

Speaking post-race, Winnington admitted that he was not in peak physical condition and had repeatedly questioned whether he wanted to compete at the competition.

"In an Olympic year, it's always really hard and there are so many points where I was going to pull out of this meet," he said.

"When I decided to [compete], I was breaking down [mentally] with my fiancée and my parents because I was in a really bad spot. Just to think of coming to another competition was hard.

"The Olympics takes so much out of you and I was mentally drained and then there was the added pressure that I am an Olympic silver medallist and there would be more eyes on me.

"The pointing to my head [in celebration after the race] was more to show myself and the world how much it took to get up for this. My whole squad from St Peters isn't here with me and my coach Dean [Boxall] hasn't been at the pool.

"It was a mental battle that I wanted to share with my family and friends back home."

Men's 400m freestyle medallists Kieran Smith (left), Elijah Winnington and Carson Foster on day three of the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) 2024. Dean Mouhtaropoulos via Getty Images

The 24-year-old stated that he wanted to shake the pressure post-Olympics and finish his 2024 campaign with purpose.

"It means everything to me to win [here]. This pool holds such a special place in my heart ― it's where I won my first world title in 2022 and this is my first ever short course world championship," he said.

"I am trying to make the most of my swimming career which is why I wanted to come and do this meet ― I love representing Australia and I know it won't last forever."

Dekkers finished the session with two bronze medals.

Canadian Summer McIntosh stormed home in world-record time to clinch the 200m butterfly crown ahead of American Regan Smith and Dekkers in a time of 2:02.91.

Representing Australia in a relay for the first time alongside teammates Leah Neale, Milla Jansen and Lani Pallister," Dekkers was not sure which medal had her more excited.

"To finally get to stand behind the blocks and get to swim for everyone else and not just yourself is just so special," she said afterwards.

Winnington's gold marked the second for Australia after Pallister's victory in the women's 800m freestyle final the day before.

Australia now has two gold, two silver and three bronze to sit third on the medal tally.

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