Madi Wilson and Matt Short announce safe arrival of first child ‘Aussie’
Australian international sporting stars Madi Wilson and Matt Short have announced the safe arrival of their first child — with a very fitting nickname.
Olympic swimming medallist Wilson and cricketer Short were engaged in October last year and went public with their rainbow pregnancy at the Australian Cricket Awards in January.
Wilson gave birth to son Austin Wilson Short on Monday, the boy weighing 3.46kg.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“Our little Aussie is here and we couldn’t be happier,” the couple wrote.
Whether intended or not, the boy’s nickname ‘Aussie’ is an apt nod to Wilson’s long and storied swimming exploits for Australia and Short’s burgeoning career in the green and gold.
Their respective sporting communities rushed to celebrate the news.
“He’s gorgeous! Congratulations to you both,” Mollie O’Callaghan wrote.
“Beautiful. Hugest Congratulations. He is exquisite. Those lips!” former swimmer turned Channel 7 star Joh Griggs said.
“Congrats guys,” wrote Glenn Maxwell.
Ariarne Titmus said: “So proud of you, he’s beautiful.”
Wilson was in the mix to qualify for the Paris Olympics prior to the pregnancy and has had no plans to retire.
The 30-year-old endured a difficult 2023 on the health front, having four benign tumours removed before a miscarriage later in the year.
She now hopes to get back in the swimming pool while eyeing off a return to competition at the World Championships or World Cup series.
Short’s cricket career has gone from strength to strength over the past two years.
Named the best player in the Big Bash in each of the last two seasons, he debuted for Australia in T20 and ODI cricket in August and September last year respectively.
The timing of Austin’s birth proved fortuitous.
Short only recently returned from spending July and August playing in the US and UK.
He will now enjoy some downtime at home before ramping up his preparations for the Australian summer of cricket with Victoria, Australia and the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash.
Short last year re-signed with the Strikers in part because Wilson remains based in Adelaide.
“Another big reason to sign again at Adelaide is because my beautiful partner Madi lives here and spending more time with her over the coming summer is very important to me,” he said at the time.
