O’Callaghan seals historic double with fourth gold medal
By Tom Decent
Fukuoka: Mollie O’Callaghan has produced more magic in the Fukuoka pool by becoming the first woman in history to win the 100m and 200m freestyle double at the same swimming world championships.
On a night where reigning Olympic and world champion Zac Stubblety-Cook lost his world record in a silver performance in the 200m breaststroke and Australia’s 4x200m relay team fought hard for a bronze medal, O’Callaghan once again showed the fighting qualities that her coach Dean Boxall saw in her at a young age.
The Australian’s remarkable world championships got even better on Friday evening when she claimed her fourth gold medal with a victory over teammate Emma McKeon in the 100m freestyle.
After mowing down Ariarne Titmus in the dying stages of the women’s 200m freestyle two nights earlier, O’Callaghan turned in seventh place at the 50-metre mark, just like Kyle Chalmers did in the men’s race on Thursday night.
“I had to trust myself,” O’Callaghan said afterwards.
There are few swimmers in the world, male or female, who are more potent than O’Callaghan in the second lap of a 100m race.
Mollie O’Callaghan celebrates winning gold in the 100m freestyle final.Credit: Getty
In front of mother Toni and father Nick in the stands, the reigning world champion clocked an eye-catching second split of 26.41 seconds to touch the wall in 52.16.
It was just outside her personal best of 52.08 she set in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay final on Sunday.
Hong Kong’s Siobhan Bernadette Haughey finished second (52.49), ahead of Marrit Steenbergen (52.71) from the Netherlands.
McKeon (52.83) missed out on her 20th career world championship medal with a fifth-place finish but the bigger picture is most definitely Paris.
O’Callaghan’s four gold medals at these world championships is the second-biggest haul by an Australian female. Libby Trickett picked up five gold medals in 2007 after victories in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 4x100m freestyle relay and 4x100m medley relay.
“I didn’t even know that no woman has done that [100 and 200 double],” O’Callaghan said. “It’s just incredible. There’s no words to explain it.
“I’m tired at the moment. I’m really enjoying it so far, which is surprising me. It’s usually so pressurised and complicated. To finally feel this way is amazing.”
O’Callaghan could feature in two more relays – the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay on Saturday night, plus the women’s 4x100m medley relay on Sunday.
If she were to win gold in both those events, O’Callaghan would equal Ian Thorpe’s Australian record of six gold medals at the same world championships.
Meanwhile, if Australia can manage four gold medals over the remaining two days of competition, they will become the most successful Dolphins team in half a century at a world championships.
Stubblety-Cook’s second place in his pet 200m breaststroke event was somewhat of a surprise, but he wasn’t losing sight of the fact it was his fastest time (2:06.40) in a year.
Silver medallist Zac Stubblety-Cook. Credit: Getty
China’s Qin Haiyang (2:05.48) completed an historic treble by adding to his 50m and 100m breaststroke gold medals with victory in the longest race in the stroke. He sliced 0.47 seconds of Stubblety-Cook’s world record.
The Chinese star set a cracking pace before holding on and jumping up on the lane rope next to Stubblety-Cook, who was forced to make his way to the other side of the lane.
“Obviously there is mixed emotions,” Stubblety-Cook said. “I wanted a little faster. It’s great to see that class in the 200 breaststroke. I knew he’d be out fast.”
Bronze in the 4x200m freestyle relay - the final team was Kai Taylor (1:45.79), Kyle Chalmers (1:45.19), Alex Graham (1:45.55) and Tommy Neil (1:45.60)- was about what Australia would have expected.
Taylor’s time was a big personal best, in front of his mum Hayley Lewis and father Greg in the stands.
Bronze medallists Thomas Neil, Alexander Graham, Kai Taylor and Kyle Chalmers after their 4x200m freestyle final. Credit: Getty
“To finally crack that 1:46 is special,” Taylor said.
Cam McEvoy (21.25) and Issac Cooper (21.65) were super impressive in their 50m freestyle semi-finals, with both registering personal bests.
McEvoy is the fastest qualifier ahead of the final on Saturday. Australia has not won a medal in the men’s 50m freestyle at a world championships since Michael Klim came third in 1998.
Matt Temple will start Saturday’s 100m butterfly final in lane six, while a tired Kaylee McKeown admitted she needed to dig deep to find something special in her favoured 200m backstroke final after two gold medals already in Japan.
“I actually had a bit of a cry in the warm-up pool,” McKeown said. “I was pretty overwhelmed. I haven’t had a day of rest. I’m looking forward to tomorrow morning having a bit of a sleep in.”
Watch the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka live on Channel Nine & 9Now.
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