Jessicah Schipper clocked the third-fastest 200 metre butterfly performance in history to narrowly miss a rare world record double on the first day of the Australian short-course swimming championships in Hobart.

Fresh from setting a long-course world record in the event at the Pan Pacific Championships last week, Schipper said she was extremely happy with her 2:04.42, despite missing a record double in under a week by just 0.38 of a second.

"I have to say I am really happy with that swim," she said.

"A 2:04, I didn't think I could go that fast after just returning back from Canada.

"I haven't really been setting any of my goals towards short course but it's definitely something that I am going to work on for the future."

Her Australian team mate, Felicity Galvez, swam an outstanding race to clock a personal best 2:04.97, the eighth-fastest time ever recorded, with 15-year-old Queenslander Samantha Hamill (2:08.62) rounding out the medallists.

In the 200m freestyle, Grant Hackett made a successful return to the pool with victory in a solid swim of 1:44.05.

The Olympic 1500m champion showed an impressive turn of speed over the final stages to relegate Commonwealth Games relay bronze medallist Kenrick Monk (1:45.39) to second place and Patrick Murphy (1:46.74) to third.

"I felt a little bit funny actually trying to sprint like that and I just wanted to go a 43 (one minute 43) and I went a 44, so it's slightly disappointing," Hackett said.

"It's my first 200 in a while so to get up and swim fast I should be happy.

"I think I will definitely swim the 1500, as a training run just to go out and see what happens."

In the 400m individual medley final, Queenslander Leith Brodie demolished the field to defend his title in an impressive 4:08.49.

Victorian Nick Cordner (4:16.13) was second with Shane Cross (4:17.74) of Warringah Aquatic rounding out the podium place getters.

The women's 400m medley was a tight race with Melbourne teenager Talia Goddard taking out her maiden Australian championship in a time of 4:41.13 after an epic duel with Albany Creek's Lorna Tonks (4:41.68).

Training partners Christian Sprenger and Leisel Jones took out the respective men's and women's 50m breaststroke finals, with Sprenger clocking 27.32 and Jones 30.20.

Matt Welsh celebrated his 25th Australian short-course title with a smart win in the 50m backstroke, in a time of 24.25, ahead of fellow Victorian Ashley Delaney (24.61) and Queensland's Leif Lyons (24.90).

Welsh took out his maiden national championship in the event in 1997.

The meet continues with heats on Saturday at 10am.

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