Stewart McSweyn

Stewart "Stewie" McSweyn (born 1 June 1995) is an Australian long-distance runner. He was a finalist in the men's 1500 metres in the Tokyo Olympics, and has also been a World Championships and Commonwealth Games finalist in the 3000 metres steeplechase, 5000 metres and 10,000 metres.

Career

Early years McSweyn grew up on a beef and sheep farm on King Island (population ~1,600) in the middle of Bass Strait, south of Melbourne, Victoria.

There was no high school on the island, so he boarded at Ballarat in Victoria. Being away from home at a young age, he built resilience which helps him cope with being overseas for lengthy periods of time.

International competition Beginning in 2016, McSweyn started regularly competing on the international circuit.

He represented Australia in the 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2017 World Championships.

In 2018, McSweyn placed third in both the 5000m and 3000m steeplechase races at the Gold Coast Australian Championships in February. In April at the Commonwealth Games, McSweyn placed 5th in the 5000m final in 13:58.96 and 11th in the 10,000m final in 28:58.22, respectively.

In December 2019, McSweyn broke the Australian record for 10,000m, running 27:23.80 at the Zatopek:10, his third successive national championship at the distance.

In July 2021, McSweyn broke the Australian record for the mile, running 3:48.37, beating the record set by Craig Mottram in 2005 by 0.61 seconds.

In August 2021, at the Tokyo Olympics, his time of 3:31.91 in the 1500 metres earned him seventh place.

In February 2023 at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships, held in Australia, McSweyn achieved a bronze medal in the mixed relay, alongside Oliver Hoare, Jessica Hull and Abbey Caldwell.

International competitions

Personal bests

Track 1500 metres – 3:29.51 (Monaco Diamond League, 2021) One mile – 3:48.37 (Oslo Diamond League, 2021) 3000 metres – 7:28.02 (Golden Gala, Rome 2020) 5000 metres – 12:56.07 (Los Angeles 2024) 10,000 metres – 27:23.38 (Zatopek 2019) 3000 metres steeplechase – 8:34.25 (Gothenburg 2017) Road 5K run – 13:39 (RIga 2023) 10K run – 27:58 (Launceston 2025)