Teen sensation Mollie O’Callaghan has fired a warning shot at the Australian Swimming World Championship Trials after taking victory in the 200m freestyle final with the fastest time in the world this season.
O’Callaghan’s time of her 1:53.83 edged reigning Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus (1:54.14), and was quicker than Canadian star Summer McIntosh and American great Katie Ledecky’s efforts so far this year.
Titmus led by half a body length at the final turn on Thursday night but after some dazzling underwater work, O’Callaghan catapulted herself in front and powered home.
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Lani Pallister (1:56.03) was third, as remarkably seven swimmers from the A and B finals met or bettered Swimming Australia’s strict qualifying time of 1:56.87.
Swimming sub-one minute and 54 seconds for the first time in her career, O’Callaghan was delighted.
“Absolutely amazed by that race,” she told Nine’s coverage.
“I came into this so nervous and I was just hoping for a PB or to finish top two.
“I’m just so happy, I’m overjoyed.”
Asked about her determination in clawing back Titmus in the final lap, O’Callaghan voiced her hang-tough mentality.
“I think whether I’m [feeling] dead or not I’m still going to go for it,” she said.
“It’s what I train for. That’s what [coach] Dean [Boxall] has taught me and guided me through so no matter how hard I’m going or if I’m hurting, I’m still going to push that last 50m no matter what.”
Now with the fastest qualifying time for next month’s World Championships in Japan, the 19-year-old expressed her anticipation.
“Oh yeah, really exciting but quite nerve-wracking. But let’s see what I can do.”
Titmus is the Australian record holder in the 200m, setting a personal best of 1:53.09 in 2021.
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Her time at the Australian trials tonight was also her fastest of the season.
Both O’Callaghan and Titmus will come up against McIntosh and Ledecky in what is set to be a tantalising meeting at the World Championships starting on July 14.
Later in the evening, Sam Short also achieved the quickest international time of the year in the 800m freestyle.
His time of 7:40.39 was less than two seconds off Grant Hackett’s Australian record.
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