1. Overview
Izaac Keith Stubblety-Cook, commonly known as Zac Stubblety-Cook, is an Australian swimmer specializing in breaststroke. He is a former world record holder in the 200 metre breaststroke (long course). Stubblety-Cook has achieved significant success at the highest levels of competitive swimming, including Olympic Games gold and silver medals, multiple World Aquatics Championships medals, and numerous Commonwealth Games titles. His major international achievements include a gold medal in the 200m breaststroke at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where he also set an Olympic record, and a silver medal in the same event at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. He has also earned bronze medals in the mixed 4x100m medley relay at both Olympic Games.
2. Life
Zac Stubblety-Cook's early life in Brisbane, Australia, laid the foundation for his distinguished swimming career, beginning with a focus on water safety that evolved into competitive excellence.
2.1. Birth and upbringing
Izaac Keith Stubblety-Cook was born on 4 January 1999 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. His initial engagement with swimming was primarily for general water safety, a common practice in Australia given its extensive coastline and aquatic culture. This early exposure to water sports gradually transitioned into a competitive passion.
2.2. Early career
Stubblety-Cook began his competitive swimming journey at the Wellers Hill Water Ratz, a swimming club located in Tarragindi, Queensland. His talent quickly became apparent, leading to his selection for the Australian national team in 2017. This marked his entry into the national swimming circuit and paved the way for his future international appearances.
3. Swimming Career
Zac Stubblety-Cook's swimming career spans successful junior and senior international competitions, marked by numerous medal-winning performances and record-breaking achievements across various major events.
3.1. Junior career
Stubblety-Cook made his mark in junior international competitions early in his career. In August 2017, he participated in the 2017 FINA World Junior Swimming Championships held in Indianapolis, United States. At this event, he secured two bronze medals: one in the 200m breaststroke and another in the 4x100m medley relay. These achievements highlighted his potential on the international stage at a young age.
3.2. Senior international debut and early achievements
Stubblety-Cook transitioned to senior international competitions in 2018. In April of that year, he competed at the 2018 Commonwealth Games held in Gold Coast, Australia, where he finished 10th in the heats of the 200m breaststroke. Later, in August, he participated in the 2018 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Tokyo, Japan. There, he earned his first senior international medal, a silver medal in the 200m breaststroke, with a time of 2:07.89, finishing behind Ippei Watanabe of Japan.
In 2019, Stubblety-Cook competed at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju, South Korea. In the men's 200m breaststroke, he placed fourth with a time of 2:07.36, narrowly missing a medal behind Anton Chupkov of Russia, his teammate Matthew Wilson, and Japan's Ippei Watanabe. He continued his strong domestic performance at the 2021 Australian Swimming National Championships, where he claimed national titles in both the 100m breaststroke and 200m breaststroke events.
3.3. Olympic Games
Stubblety-Cook has been a prominent figure at the Olympic Games, securing multiple medals and setting an Olympic record.
At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Stubblety-Cook competed in both the men's 100m and 200m breaststroke events. His most significant achievement came in the 200m breaststroke, where he won the gold medal, setting a new Olympic record with a time of 2:06.38. This performance surpassed the previous Olympic record of 2:07.22 held by Ippei Watanabe. He also contributed to Australia's success in the mixed 4x100m medley relay, where the team finished third, earning him a bronze medal.
At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, he continued his Olympic medal streak. He secured a silver medal in the men's 200m breaststroke and added another bronze medal as part of the mixed 4x100m medley relay team.
3.4. World Aquatics Championships
Stubblety-Cook has consistently performed at the World Aquatics Championships, earning a collection of medals across different editions.
Following his Olympic success, Stubblety-Cook competed at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. He won a gold medal in the 200m breaststroke and a silver medal in the 4x100m mixed medley relay.
In 2023, he participated in the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. He earned a silver medal in the 200m breaststroke, finishing 0.92 seconds behind Qin Haiyang, who broke Stubblety-Cook's world record in that event. He also secured a silver medal in the 4x100m mixed medley relay and a bronze medal in the men's 4x100m medley relay.
3.5. Commonwealth Games
Stubblety-Cook has achieved considerable success at the Commonwealth Games, accumulating multiple gold and silver medals.
His Commonwealth Games debut was at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, where he competed in the 200m breaststroke heats. He later made a significant impact at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. There, he secured two gold medals: one in the 200m breaststroke and another in the mixed 4x100m medley relay. He also earned two silver medals in the 100m breaststroke and the men's 4x100m medley relay, showcasing his versatility and strength across breaststroke events and relays.
3.6. Pan Pacific Championships
Stubblety-Cook achieved his first senior international medal at the Pan Pacific Championships.
At the 2018 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Tokyo, Japan, he won a silver medal in the 200m breaststroke, marking a significant milestone in his early senior career.
3.7. Domestic competitions
Stubblety-Cook has also demonstrated strong performances in Australian national championships, securing national titles and setting records.
At the 2021 Australian Swimming National Championships, he claimed national titles in both the 100m breaststroke and 200m breaststroke. In May 2022, at the 2022 Australian Swimming Championships held in Adelaide, he qualified for both the 2022 World Aquatics Championships and the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the 100m and 200m breaststroke events. During this competition, he set a new world record in the 200m breaststroke final with a time of 2:05.95, surpassing the previous record of 2:06.12 held by Anton Chupkov since 2019.
4. Records and Awards
Zac Stubblety-Cook has held significant world and Olympic records and has been recognized with national honors for his contributions to Australian sport.
4.1. World records
Stubblety-Cook held the world record in the long course 200 metre breaststroke.
| No. | Event | Time | Meet | Location | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 200 m breaststroke | 2:05.95 | 2022 Australian Swimming Championships | Adelaide, Australia | 19 May 2022 | Former |
4.2. Olympic records
Stubblety-Cook also held an Olympic record in the long course 200 metre breaststroke.
| No. | Event | Time | Meet | Location | Date | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 200 m breaststroke | 2:06.38 | 2020 Summer Olympics | Tokyo, Japan | 29 July 2021 | Former |
4.3. Major awards and honors
In recognition of his achievements, Stubblety-Cook was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) as part of the 2022 Australia Day Honours.
5. Personal Best Records
The following table details Zac Stubblety-Cook's personal best times in various swimming strokes and distances.
| Event | Time | Date | Meet | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50m Breaststroke | 28.15 | 15 April 2021 | 2021 Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Club Championships | Gold Coast, Australia | |
| 100m Breaststroke | 59.69 | 12 June 2021 | 2021 Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Trials | Adelaide, Australia | |
| 200m Breaststroke | 2:06.28 | 15 June 2021 | 2021 Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Trials | Adelaide, Australia | |
| 50m Butterfly | 27.84 | 15 December 2020 | 2020 McDonald's Queensland Championships | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
6. Training
Zac Stubblety-Cook trains under the guidance of coach Vince Raleigh at the Chandler Aquatic Centre, located in Brisbane, Queensland. He stands at 71 in (181 cm) tall and weighs 159 lb (72 kg).