Australian Championships, Night 4 Finals: Mollie O’Callaghan Reveals She Wanted To Scratch Before Winning The 200m Freestyle
Mollie O’Callaghan was ready to withdraw from her pet event – the 200m freestyle final on the last night of the 2025 Australian Swimming Championships – the event she won at last year’s Olympics in Paris – before producing the bravest of victories.
Swimming in an uncustomary lane one after barely qualifying for the final at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre and with the words of coach Dean Boxall ringing in her ears, Mollie O dug deep to win the final after a dramatic day.
Hours earlier the girl who arrived home with three gold medals from Paris – the toast of the nation, wanted out – for the first time in her career after clocking 2:00.04 – seven seconds slower than her Olympic record. She was done.
Her dislocated knee suffered in January, together with fatigue and self-doubt had taken its toll after a busy three days of racing, saying she was “swimming on one leg.”
MOLLIE O SO BRAVE: Mollie O’Callaghan digs deep in Brisbane. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr Swimming Australia
Lane one was no place for this Olympic champion – her immediate thought was to scratch from the final.
Enter St Peters Western head coach Boxall with a pep talk, a heart-to-heart that turned Mollie around; reluctantly taking her place in the final.
Using all of those qualities of an Olympic champion, Mollie won her second gold medal of the meet almost five seconds faster than her heat swim -winning the final in 1:55.71.
“It’s been a rough week and for the first time (in my life) I was thinking of pulling out of the final – my knee was getting progressively worse but a pep talk from Dean (Boxall) turned me around…something I wasn’t too stoked about,” admitted O’Callaghan.
She would later tell the ABC that Boxall had explained it was one of her chances to race this year as she didn’t get the opportunity at all at the start because of injury.
“Dean just said to come here tonight and try and flip the switch,” said O’Callaghan.
“All week I would say I was pretty mentally strong, but as the event goes on you slowly fade away with tiredness and fatigue and things start popping up and irritating, so to hold myself a bit accountable and to be like, ‘OK, just suck it up.’
“Dean was like, ‘If this is a possibility to happen at Worlds, you want to do it now so you have practice’ — so that was just the mentality, whatever happens, happens.
Mollie O’Callaghan 100m free heats 2025 Aust Champs Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).
“But at the end of the day, I know I’m a fighter, we do the sport because we want to win and I’m going to push myself to the max even if it hurts — that’s the whole point of it.”
She had spoken earlier in the week about shedding a lot of tears after winning the 100m freestyle on the opening night followed by another eight races before arriving at the pool today for her pet event.
Swimming in lane four in the first heat, a lane traditionally reserved for the top seed, the Olympic champion struggled – she couldn’t break two minutes.
An anxious wait to watch the next two seeded heats as her new St Peters Western team mate Lani Pallisterwon heat two in 1:58.62 and WA’s Commonwealth Youth Games star Inez Miller took the third heat in 1:59.13.
Some quick calculations and Mollie had qualified for the 10-swimmer final – the seventh fastest qualifier and drawn in lane one – away from the action, but an outside lane with its advantages – an outside smoker as they say in the trade.
In the final it was Pallister, a noted front runner who had already won 400 and 800, who dragged the field through the first 100 in 56.95 with O’Callaghan a fraction behind in 57.08 before letting loose on the all-important third 50 in 29.71, unleashing a 28.92 on the final lap – the real Mollie was steaming home with both legs pumping like an outboard motor.
“To come back and race I am pretty proud of myself…this whole preparation has been like playing catch up..not training and then having to struggle in a lot of sessions,” said O’Callaghan.
“But I have just had to treat this as a stepping stone without focusing on the outcome.”
O’Callaghan will now regroup and begin her preparations for the World Championship Trials in Adelaide in June…and with the words of Dean Boxall ringing in her ears “let’s flip the switch.”
QLD clubs dominate 2025 Australian Championships
A 16-gold medal haul has seen Brisbane-based Peters Western Lutheran School defend its Australian Club Point Score Title with a total of 1751 points, from Gold Coast-based Universities – Griffith (961) and Bond (829) In all, Dean Boxall’s SPW won 16 gold, 12 silver and 9 bronze for 37 medals.
The Griffith University (Head Coach: Mel Marshall) won: 7 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze (Total 15) and Bond University (Head Coach Chris Mooney) with 4 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze (Total 10).
FULL RESULTS
2025 Australian Open Swimming Championships, Brisbane Aquatic Centre
MEN
Freestyle
50m
Cam McEvoy (Somerville House, QLD) 21.48
Jamie Jack (St Peters Western, QLD) 21.95
Thomas Nowakowski (USC Spartans, QLD) 22.07
100m
Thomas Ceccon (Italy) 48.41
Jamie Jack (St Peters Western, QLD) 48.63
Flynn Southam (Bond, QLD) 49.05
William Yang (Sydney University, NSW) 49.07
Jamie Jack (L) and Thomas Ceccon Photo Courtesy Delly Carr Swimming Australia
200m
Max Giuliani (TSS Aquatic, QLD) :1:47.03
Ed Sommerville (Brisbane Grammar, QLD) 1:47.87
Lewis Clareburt (NZ) 1:47.95
Thomas Ceccon (ITA) 1:47.97
Elijah Winnington (St Peters Western, QLD) 1:48.18
400m
Elijah Winnington (St Peters Western, QLD) 3:45.97
Benjamin Goedemans (St Peters Western, QLD) 3:47.03
Matthew Galea (SOPAC, NSW) 3:51.42
800m
Benjamin Goedemans (St Peters Western, QLD) 7:52.52
Matthew Galea (SOPAC, NSW) 8:00.88
Thomas Raymond (Noosa, QLD) 8:02.25
1500m
Benjamin Goedemans (St Peters Western, QLD) 14:57.75
Thomas Raymond (Noosa, QLD) 15:17.74
Matthew Galea (SOPAC, NSW) 15:20.31
Multi-Class
50m
Nicholas Layton (Caulfield, VIC) 23.85
Rowan Crothers (Marion, SA) 23.97
Alex Tuckfield (Aquablitz Toongabbie, NSW) 24.73
Nicholas Layton Photo Courtesy Delly Carr Swimming Australia
100m
Rowan Crothers (Marion, SA) 52.13
Nicholas Layton (Caulfield, VIC) 52.97
Alexander Tuckfield (Aquablitz Toongabbie, NSW) 53.59
200m
Jack Ireland (University of QLD) 1:55.10
Declan Budd (Knox Pymble, NSW) 1:56.40
Samuel Gould (Runaway Bay, QLD) 2:02.70
400m
Harrison Vig (University of QLD) 4:25.53
Dniel Rigby (Knox Pymble, NSW) 4:42.52
Hamish Keenan (Propulsion, VIC) 4:50.83
Backstroke
50m
Isaac Cooper (St Andrews, QLD) 24.80
Enoch Robb (Griffith University, QLD) 25.39
Kalani Ireland (Somerville House, QLD) 25.56
Isaac Cooper all smiles after his 50m backstroker win Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
100m
Enoch Robb (Griffith University, QLD) 54.85
Bradley Woodward (Mingara, NSW) 55.21
Josh Edwards-Smith (Griffith University, QLD) 55.27
200m
Thomas Ceccon (ITA) 1:55.71
Josh Edwards-Smith (Griffith University, QL:D) 1:58.23
Kane Follows (NZ) 1:58.96
Multi-Class
50m
Ben Hance (USC Spartans, QLD) 26.44
Dylan Logan (Albany Creek, QLD) 30.74
Liam Togher (Knox Pymble, NSW) 32.08
Multi-Class
100m
Timothy Hodge (Blacktown, NSW) 1:03.58
Declan Budd (Knox Pymble, NSW) 1:01.40
Jesse Aungels (Cruiz, ACT) 1:10.26
Breaststroke
50m
Sam Williamson (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC) 27.10
Grayson Bell (SOPAC, NSW) 27.59
Josh Collett (Bond, QLD) 27.83
Sam Williamson (L) and Grayson Bel lPhotos Courtesy Delly Carr Swimming Australia
100m
Sam Williamson (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC) 1:00.46
Bailey Lello (St Peters Western, QLD) 1:00.66
Joshua Yong (UWA West Coast, WA) 1:01.15
200m
Bailey Lello (St Peters Western, QLD) 2:11.90
Joshua Collett (Bond, QLD) 2:12.56
William Petric (St Peters Western, QLD) 2:14.14
Multi-Class
50m
Jake Michel (Carina Leagues, QLD) 29.58
Joshua Willmer (NZ) 33.85
Beau Matthews (Aquablitz Toongabbie, NSW) 32.03
Jake MIchel (Para) 2025 Aust Champs Photo Courtesy Delly Carr Swimming Australia
100m
Jake Michel (Carina Leagues CJs, QLD) 1:05.08
Timothy Hodge (Blacktown, NSW) 1:13.04
Joshua Willmer (NZ) 1:13.65
Beau Wheeler (Aquablitz Toongabbie, NSW) 1:11.21
Butterfly
50m
Cameron McEvoy (Somerville House, QLD) 23.18
Isaac Cooper (St Andrews, QLD) 23.63
Matthew Temple (Marion, SA) 23.76
Cam McEvoy Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).
100m
Thomas Ceccon (Italy) 51.26
Matt Temple (Marion, SA) 51.51
Harrison Turner (Nudgee College, QLD) 52.30
200m
Harrison Turner (Nudgee College, QLD) 1:57.28
William Jordan (Brisbane Grammar, QLD) 1:59.92
Sean Alcorn (Peel Aquatic, WA) 2:00.51
Multi-Class
50m
Dylan Logan (Albany Creek, QLD) 27.09
Col Pearse (Nunawading, VIC) 26.76
Lewis Bishop (Rackley, QLD) 28.88
100m
Declan Budd (Knox Pymble, NSW) 56.99
Timothy Hodge (Blacktown, NSW) 1:00.47
Nicholas Layton (Caulfield, VIC) 57.16
Declan Budd Photo Courtesy Delly Carr Swimming Australia
Individual Medley
Lewis Clareburt (NZ) 1:59;05
Will Petric (St Peters Western, QLD) 1:59.40
David Schlicht (MLC Aquatic, VIC) 2:00.43
400m
Lewis Clareburt (NZ) 4:13.06
Will Petric St Peters Western, QLD) 4:18.58
Se-Bom Lee (SOPAC, NSW) 4:18.69
Multi-Class
200m
Timothy Hodge (Blacktown, NSW) 2:14.26
Beau Matthews (Aquablitz Toongabbie, NSW) 2:17.04
Col Pearse (Nunawading, VIC) 2:17.40
WOMEN
Freestyle
50m
Meg Harris (Rackley, QLD) 24.57
Alex Perkins (USC Spartans, QLD) 25.00
Mollie O’Callaghan (St Peters Western, QLD) 25.01
Meg Harris wins 50 free Aus Champs 25 Photo Courtesy Delly Carr ((Swimming Australia)
100m
Mollie O’Callaghan (St Peters Western, QLD) 53.12
Meg Harris (Rackley, QLD) 54.03
Alex Perkins (USC Spartans, QLD) 54.21
200m
Mollie O’Callaghan St Peters Western, QLD) 1:55.71
Lani Pallister St Peters Western, QLD) 1:57.06
Brittany Castelluzzo (Tea Tree Gully, SA) 1:57.31
400m
Lani Pallister (St Peters Western, QLD) 4:02.34
Erika Fairweather (NZ) 4:04.55
Jamie Perkins (St Peters Western, QLD) 4:06.29
800m
Lani Pallister (St Peters Western, QLD) 8:18.71
Erika Fairweather (NZ) 8:23.19
Moesha Johnson (Miami, QLD) 8:25.42
1500m
Moesha Johnson (Miami, QLD) 16:02.59
Caitlin Deans (NZ) 16:17.40
Tiana Kritzinger (Rackley, QLD) 16:24.84
Moesha Johnson Photo Courtesy Delly Carr Swimming Australia
Multi-Class
50m
Alexa Leary (Bond, QLD) 27.66
Keira Stephens (Southport, QLD) 29.22
Taylor Corry (Purruna, SA) 29.10
100m
Alexa Leary (Bond, QLD) 59.32 *
Chloe Osborn (Blacktown) 1:13.57
Kiera Stephens (Southport, QLD) 1:04.80
*Alex Leary set a new WR of 59.22 in the heats.
Alexa Leary WR 1900 free S9 Australian Champs 2025 Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
200m
Madeleine McTernan (TSS Aquatic, QLD) 2:14.14
Ikuha Nakahigashi (Japan) 2:15.26
Taylor Corry (Purruna, SA) 2:17.97
400m
Hannah Price (Campbelltown, NSW) 4:47.78
Sarah Howe (St Hildas, QLD) 4:57.52
Michelle Fawer (Engadine, NSW) 4:58.19
Backstroke
50m
Kaylee McKeown (Griffith University, QLD) 27.22
Mollie O’Callaghan (St Peters Western, QLD) 27.51
Amber George (NZ) 28.24
Hannah Fredericks (St Peters Western, QLD) 28.33
Kaylee McKeown Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).
100m
Kaylee McKeown (Griffith University, QLD) 57.65
Mollie O’Callaghan (St Peters Western, QLD) 59,23
Hannah Fredericks (St Peters Western, QLD) 1:00.41
200m
Hannah Fredericks St Peters Western, QLD) 2:10.73
Georgina McCarthy (NZ) 2:13.13
Layla Day (Bond, QLD) 2:15.28
Multi-Class
50m
Hannah Price (Campbelltown, NSW) 33.70
Ikuha Nakahigashi (Japan) 33.37
Taylor Corry (Purruna, SA) 33.63
100m
Jasmine Greenwood (Woden Valley, ACT) 1:10.83
Hannah Price (Campbelltown, NSW) 1:11.56
Madeleine McTernan (TSS Aquatic, QLD) 1:10.27
Breaststroke
50m
Mia O’Leary (Griffith University, QLD) 31.23
Siena Harben (Bond, QLD) 31.27
Tilly King (Bond, QLD) 31.51
100m
Ella Ramsay (Griffith University, QLD) 1:07.80
Tara Kinder (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC) 1:08.20
Siena Harben (Bond, QLD) 1:08.45
200m
Tara Kinder (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC) 2:24.70
Ella Ramsay (Griffith University, QLD) 2:25.34
Siena Harben (Bond, QLD) 2:29.61
tara Kinder 400 IM winner Out Champs 25 Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
Multi Class
50m
Ruby Halliday (MLC Aquatic, VIC) 45.62
Kubo Minami (Japan) 35.33
Amelie Springett-Kelly (City of Sydney, NSW) 48.36
Savanah Maynier (Woy Woy, NSW) 39.72
100m
Kubo Minami Kubo (Japan) 1:18.30
Amelie Springett-Kelly 1:44.19
Ruby Halliday (MLC Aquatic, VIC) 1:44.40
Butterfly
50m
Rikako Ikee (Japan) 25.71
Alex Perkins (USC Spartans, QLD) 25.78
Lily Price (Rackleys, QLD) 26.24
100m
Alex Perkins (USC Spartans, QLD) 57.44
Brittany Castelluzzo (Tea Tree Gully, SA) 58.25
Lily Price (Rackley, QLD) 58.52
Alex Perkins Photo Courtesy Delly Carr Swimming Australia
200m
Brittany Castelluzzo (Tea Tree Gully, SA) 2:06.86
Abbey Connor (USC Spartans, QLD) 2:08.79
Jessica Cole (Wests Illawarra, NSW) 2:1.94
50m
Taylor Corry (Purruna, SA) 31.23
Jasmine Fullgrabe (Marion, SA) 32.68
Savanah Maynier (Woy Woy, NSW) 35.49
100m
Jasmine Greenwood (Woden Valley, ACT) 1:07.99
Taylor Corry (Purruna, SA) 1:09.58
Montana Atkinson (Helensvale, QLD 1:10.11
Individual medley
200m
Ella Ramsay (Griffith University, QLD) 2:10.05
Tara Kinder (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC) 2:11.29
Isabella Boyd (Nunawading, VIC) 2:13.13
400m
Tara Kinder (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC) 4:37.14
Ella Ramsay (Griffith University, QLD) 4:41.27
Jenna Forrester (St Peters Western, QLD) 4:45.70
.
Multi Class
200m
Hannah Price (Campbelltown, NSW) 2:37.28
Ikuha Nakahigashi (Japan) 2:34.44
Jasmine Fullgrabe (Marion, SA) 2:44.88
Rowan Crothers celebrates his 7th Australian Para title in the 100m free Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)