View source for Ashley Callus

{{Short description|Australian swimmer (born 1979)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2012}}
{{Infobox swimmer
| name           = Ashley Callus
| image          = Ashley Callus - Craig Franklin.jpg
| image_size     = 220
| alt            =
| caption        = 
| fullname       = Ashley John Callus
| nicknames      = 
| national_team  = {{AUS}}
| strokes        = [[Freestyle swimming|Freestyle]]
| club           = Redlands Swimming Club
| coach          = 
| collegeteam    = 
| birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|1979|3|10|df=y}}
| birth_place    = [[Brisbane, Queensland]]
| death_date     = 
| death_place    = 
| height         = {{convert|1.88|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight         = {{convert|85|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalSport | Men's swimming}}
{{MedalCountry |{{AUS}}}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Swimming at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
[[File:Olympic rings.svg|center|80px]]
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney]] | [[Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay|4×100 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing]]|[[Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay|4×100 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[FINA World Aquatics Championships|World Championships (LC)]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2001 World Aquatics Championships|2001 Fukuoka]] | [[Swimming at the 2001 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay|4×100 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalGold | 2001 Fukuoka | [[Swimming at the 2001 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|World Championships (SC)]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2002 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|2002 Moscow]] | 100 m freestyle}}
{{MedalGold | [[2006 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|2006 Shanghai]] | 4×100 m medley}}
{{MedalSilver | 2002 Moscow | 4×100 m medley}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Swimming at the Goodwill Games|Goodwill Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2001 Goodwill Games|2001 Brisbane]] | 4×100 m freestyle}}
{{MedalSilver | 2001 Brisbane | 100 m freestyle}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Pan Pacific Swimming Championships|Pan Pacific Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2002 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships|2002 Yokohama]] | [[2002 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships – Men's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay|4×100 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalSilver | 2002 Yokohama | [[2002 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships – Men's 100 metre freestyle|100 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Swimming at the Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 1998 Commonwealth Games|1998 Kuala Lumpur]] | [[Swimming at the 1998 Commonwealth Games – Men's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay|4×100 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2002 Commonwealth Games|2002 Manchester]] | [[Swimming at the 2002 Commonwealth Games – Men's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay|4×100 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalSilver | 2002 Manchester | [[Swimming at the 2002 Commonwealth Games – Men's 100 metre freestyle|100 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[Swimming at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|2006 Melbourne]] | [[Swimming at the 2006 Commonwealth Games – Men's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay|4×100 m freestyle]]}}
}}

'''Ashley John Callus''' {{post-nominals|country=AUS|OAM}} (born 10 March 1979) is an Australian former sprint [[Freestyle swimming|freestyle]] swimmer, who won a gold medal in the 4&nbsp;×&nbsp;100&nbsp;m freestyle relay at the [[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney Olympics]].<ref>{{cite Sports-Reference |title=Ashley Callus |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ca/ashley-callus-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203001548/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ca/ashley-callus-1.html |archive-date=3 December 2016}}</ref>

Coming from [[Brisbane]], [[Queensland]], and of [[Maltese people|Maltese]] origin, Callus, graduated in [[Iona College (Queensland)|Iona College]], he was coached by [[Chris Urquhart]], spent the beginning of his career as the understudy of fellow Australians [[Michael Klim]] and [[Chris Fydler]]. After finishing fourth in the 100&nbsp;m freestyle at the 2000 Australian Championships, Callus was selected to make his debut at the age of 21 at the [[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney Olympics]] in the 4 × 100 m freestyle relay.

== 2000 Olympics ==
Swimming with Klim, Fydler and [[Ian Thorpe]], the Australians were not expected to win, as the United States had never lost the event at Olympic level. However, cheered on by a raucous home crowd, Klim set a world record 48.18&nbsp;s in the leadoff leg, before Fydler maintained the lead, handing Callus a half-body length lead over [[Jason Lezak]]. Callus did well to stave off the faster and more experienced Lezak, giving Thorpe a slender lead. The fast-finishing Thorpe managed to overhaul the fast-starting [[Gary Hall Jr.]] by a handspan, sealing a gold medal in a world record time of 3&nbsp;min 13.67&nbsp;s, almost two seconds below the previous world mark.

At the 2001 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, he was again part of the 4&nbsp;×&nbsp;100&nbsp;m freestyle relay team which won gold ahead of the United States, and was also a finalist in the 100&nbsp;m freestyle. The following year, 2002 saw his finest moment as he won individual gold at the [[2002 FINA Short Course World Championships|2002 World Short Course Championships]] in Moscow, Russia in the 100&nbsp;m freestyle.

== 2004 Olympics ==
In 2004, Callus qualified to represent Australia for both the 50&nbsp;m and 100&nbsp;m freestyle, as well as the relays at the National Trials, swimming to his usual standards. However, at the [[2004 Summer Olympics|Athens Olympics]], Callus swum much slower in the heats of his individual events and was a long margin from even qualifying for the semi-finals. He was ignominiously dropped from the final of the 4&nbsp;×&nbsp;100&nbsp;m freestyle relay, where Australia came sixth. It was revealed that he had contracted the [[Epstein-Barr]] virus and he took a year off to recover, returning in late 2005, declaring that he had completely overcome his illness. He has gained selection for the [[2006 Commonwealth Games]] in Melbourne.

At the [[2006 Commonwealth Games]], Callus anchored the 4&nbsp;×&nbsp;100&nbsp;m freestyle relay team to silver, and also reached the final of both the 50&nbsp;m and 100&nbsp;m freestyle, although he was considerably outside his best time in both events. He took a new gold for Australia in the [[2006 FINA Short Course World Championships|2006 World Short Course Championships]] at 4&nbsp;×&nbsp;100&nbsp;m medley relay, in Shanghai, China, April 2006.

== 2008 Olympics ==
At the [[2008 Summer Olympics]], Callus was part of the Australian 4 × 100 m freestyle relay team, which won the bronze medal in the event. He also took part in the 50m freestyle finishing a close 4th. In a post swim interview, he said he would not return for a 4th Olympics.

=== Successful Return ===
Callus made a return in 2009 at the Aus trials, despite clocking thunderous times in the prelims and semi-finals, he failed to beat the younger generation of sprinters in [[Eamon Sullivan]] & [[Matthew Abood]]. In a post swim interview he claimed due to the slow real estate market he had more free time to return to the pool.

After what most swimming fans assumed was a quiet retirement, Callus made an unexpected return to the Australian short course championships, clocking a new Australian record in the 50m freestyle.

On 26 November at the 2009 International AIS meet, Callus broke Sullivan's Australian record (former world record) in the men's 50m freestyle to clock 21.24 in the mourning prelims. For the second time in a day, taking 0.05 off the mark in the finals and bringing it down to 21.19, making him the 3rd fastest swimmer in history. "At the end of the day it's great to do fast times and see what I can possibly do, and that would have won a medal at Worlds," said Callus.

At the [[2010 Australian Swimming Championships|2010 Telstra Trials]] he won the 50m freestyle in a time of 22.09, at the [[2010 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships|2010 Pan Pacs]] he finished 7th in 22.15. At the [[2010 Commonwealth Games]] he was disqualified in the semi-finals. "It's one of those things," he said. "That's bitterly disappointing ... I could have been up on the dais because I knew I was in good form." Asked if that was his last swim: "Definitely in the Commonwealth Games format. As they say, shit happens."

==Career best times==

{|
|-
||
{| class="wikitable" 
|+ Long Course personal bests
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| '''Event'''
| align="center" | '''Time'''
| align="center" | '''Record'''
|-
|  50m Freestyle || align="center" | 21.19
| align="center" | Former Aus Record Holder 
|-
|  100m Freestyle || align="center" | 48.68
| 
|-
|}
||
{| class="wikitable" 
|+ Short Course personal bests
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| '''Event'''
| align="center" | '''Time'''
| align="center" | '''Record'''
|-
|  50m Freestyle || align="center" | 20.98
| Former Aus Record Holder
|-
|  100m Freestyle || align="center" | 46.99
| Former Aus Record Holder
|-
|}
|}

==See also==
* [[List of Commonwealth Games medallists in swimming (men)]]
* [[List of Olympic medalists in swimming (men)]]
* [[World record progression 4 × 100 metres freestyle relay]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{World Aquatics}}
* {{Swimrankings}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{Olympics.com|ashley-callus}}
* {{AOC profile|ashley-callus}}
* {{CGA profile|ashley-callus}}
* {{CGF profile}}
* {{2006 Commonwealth Games profile}}

{{Footer Olympic Champions 4x100 m Freestyle Relay Men}}
{{Footer World LC Champions 4x100m Freestyle Men}}
{{Footer World SC Champions 100m Freestyle Men}}
{{Footer World SC Champions 4x100m Medley Men}}
{{Footer Pan Pacific Champions 4x100m Freestyle Men}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 4x100m Freestyle Men}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Callus, Ashley}}
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportsmen from Queensland]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic swimmers for Australia]]
[[Category:Australian male freestyle swimmers]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Australia]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Australia]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Australia]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games swimmers for Australia]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists in swimming]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for Australia]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists in swimming]]
[[Category:Australian people of Maltese descent]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2002 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2006 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:World record setters in swimming]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists in swimming]]
[[Category:World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming]]
[[Category:Medalists at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Swimmers from Brisbane]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists in swimming]]
[[Category:Goodwill Games medalists in swimming]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 2001 Goodwill Games]]
[[Category:People from Redland City]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2002 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2006 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:People educated at Iona College Brisbane]]