Aussie Trials, Night 3 Finals: Mollie O’Callaghan’s 1:52.86 Shakes The Life Out Of the Women’s 200m Freestyle World Record
Australia’s Olympic champion Mollie O’Callaghan has shaken the life out of the women’s 200m freestyle world record in Sydney tonight – Mollie O just missing the mark set when compatriot Ariarne Titmus beat her at the 2024 Olympic Trials.
O’Callaghan clocking 1:52.86 – the fourth fastest time in history after being 0.81 under world record pace at the 100m turn and 0.52 under with 50m to swim.
MOLLIE O SO GOOD: No catching Mollie O. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
The 22-year-old from St Peters Western dropping off the world record pace in the closing stages, in what was a brave mighty swim, right from the start.
Sending a message that the Titmus world mark of 1:52.23 will be under siege come the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Pan Pacs in Irvine in July and August this year.
Mollie O took off like a rocket down the first lap in 26.11 – ahead of world record pace from the outset, splitting 54.32 at the 100m and 1:23.43 at the 150m mark.
Saying after the race: “My end game is to just keep improving so let’s see if I can keep pushing the boundaries to the impossible which is the main goal…especially for myself I’m so young and I’ve evolved very quickly in this 200m,” said O’Callaghan.
And chasing Mollie all the way was her St Peters Western training partner Lani Pallister who produced the swim of her life, clocking a massive personal best of 1:53.65 – making her the equal fifth fastest in history alongside Canadian swim queen Summer McIntosh and behind Titmus, O’Callaghan. Italy’s Federica Pellegrini and the USA’s Allison Schmitt.
MOVER AND SHAKER; Lani Pallister moving up the rankings. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
The swim taking Pallister from 17th to fifth – improving her time by over a full second from her previous best of 1:54.77.
Third home in 1:56.41 was WA’s Inez Miller (The Highlanders) – the winner of five gold medals at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games, including the 200m freestyle and who is now a member of the Texas Longhorns at the University of Texas.
Miller will graduate from the Youth Games into the senior Glasgow Commonwealth Games team in what will be an exciting 4x200m freestyle relay.
Along with fourth placed Hannah Casey (Bond, QLD) in 1:56.85 who will make up Australia’s new look relay team.
Pallister praising O’Callaghan and her St Peters Western coaches.
“For me the 200 is important to give me some speed for the 400, 800 and 1500,” said Pallister.
“I tried to get onto to Mollie’s lane rope in the first 50m and I just followed her a little bit.
“She certainly has a lot more speed that I have but I’m in a really good place at the moment, I’m confident and I’m having a lot of fun racing.
“It’s been a really good week and it’s been an incredible 18 months at St Peters.
OUT OF THJE BOX: Coach Dean Boxall urging his swimmers along. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr(Swimming ng Australia).
“I’m really grateful for all the coaches I’ve had in the past, Michael Bohl my mum Janelle and Mel Marshall and all the work and belief that Dean Boxall and Mick Lewandowski have in me…..
And on Mollie?
“I have seen that girl do some insane things in training which is a testament to our coaches Dean and Mick and the St Peters group,” said Pallister.
“It’s really cool that St Peters has this amazing legacy in the 200m.Obviously Ariarne Titmus, Brianna Throssell and Shayna Jackand all the girls who have come before Mollie plus Milla Jansen and Jenna Forrester who were in that race.
“It’s really exciting moving forward…I’m really proud and I know Mollie has a lot more in the tank which is really special.”