Mollie O’Callaghan Off To A Flying Start At The Australian Open Championships On The Gold Coast
Two-time world champion Mollie O’Callaghan has taken just 53.26 seconds in the preliminary heats of the 100m freestyle to show she means business at the 2026 Australian Open Championships on the Gold Coast.
O’Callaghan – out in 25.80 – powered home in the opening heat in a time which puts her in the top six times swum this year.
The 2022 and 2023 world champion finished the closest of seconds behind Hong Kong’s Simone Haughey at the recent China Open – Haughey winning in 52.79 out-touching O’Callaghan, who clocked 52.80.
Mollie O’s season’s best definitely under threat tonight when she lines up against an all-star field with 2026 rankings leader Meg Harris (Rackley, QLD) next on 53.71, followed by Shayna Jack (St Peters Western, QLD) and Olivia Wunsch (Carlile, NSW) 53.91, Milla Jansen (St Peters Western, QLD) 54.31, Alex Perkins (USC Spartans, QLD) 54.40, Hannah Casey (Bond) 54.55, Abbey Webb (Cruiz, ACT) 54.95, Chelsea Edwards (New Zealand) 55.04 and Brittany Castelluzzo (Tea Tree Gully, SA) 55.12.
While in the men’s 100m heats it was sprint king, triple Olympic medallist and 2012 champion, Kyle Chalmers (Marion, SA) who will lead the field into the final in 48.58, ahead of Paris Olympian Flynn Southam (Bond) 48.83, Jamie Jack (St Peters Western), 48.89, Ed Sommerville (Brisbane Grammar, Q:D) 48.94 and Paris Olympian Kai Taylor (St Peters Western) 48.96 – the only swimmers under 49 seconds.
While all eyes will be on dual double Olympic champion and world record holder, Kaylee McKeown (USC Spartans, QLD) in the women’s 200m backstroke final.
The 24-year-old cruised through the back end of this morning’s heat swim, topping the qualifiers in 2:09.73 (29.92;1:02.68;1:35.89).
McKeown, who holds the world record at 2:03.14 (29.34; 1:00.73; 1:31.84) will be joined in the final by, amongst others, St Peters Western pair Hannah Fredericks (2:10.62) and Jenna Forrester (2:13.42).