O'Callaghan on cusp of record with relay gold at worlds

The Advertiser

5 days ago

Swim star Mollie O'Callaghan has equalled the golden haul of a legend by anchoring another Australian relay triumph at the world titles.
O'Callaghan has helped Australia's women's 4x200m freestyle relay team secure gold in Singapore on Thursday night.
The 21-year-old has 11 career golds at world titles, equalling the Australian record of Ian Thorpe.
O'Callaghan is favourite to win her 12th gold in the 100m freestyle on Friday night - she was fastest through the semis before swimming the relay.
"It was pretty rough backing it up ... (but) it's a dream to be part of this team," she said.
The victory of O'Callaghan, Lani Pallister, Jamie Perkins and Brittany Castelluzzo was Australia's third relay gold of the titles and came as the Dolphins also bagged two bronze medals on Thursday night.
Kyle Chalmers (men's 100m freestyle) and Lizzie Dekkers (women's 200m butterfly) both reached the podium.
Australia retain top spot on the medal tally with five golds, one silver and five bronze. The United States (four gold) is next best.
Dolphins stalwart Chalmers remains bullish of breaking a personal barrier after finishing behind Romania's sizzling David Popovici, who clocked the second-fastest time ever - 46.51 seconds - and American Jack Alexy (46.92).
Chalmers touched in 47.17 - he is yet to swim the race in less than 47 seconds, which is now the realm of world winners.
"Those guys saw a 46.4 last year and everyone has been training and believing they can swim 46 now - and 46 has become the new normal," Chalmers said.
"It's amazing how stacked that race is now."
Chalmers has twice logged personal best times of 47.08 and, at the age of 27, believes he can improve.
"I was never going to swim 46.5, or around that mark, unfortunately, I would have loved to see 46 next to my name," he said.
"But I'm really, really proud of that performance. To come away with a medal in such a stacked final is something I'm extremely proud of."
Earlier Thursday night, Dekkers took the bronze in a women's 200m butterfly won by Canadian star Summer McIntosh - the 18-year-old's third gold of the titles.
"Physically, I'm not at my best," said Dekkers, a late call-up to the team when Abbey Connor withdrew for personal reasons.
"So I knew that mentally, I had to be there ... I love racing, and that's why we all do this, because there's something about standing behind the blocks that we all love."
Swim star Mollie O'Callaghan has equalled the golden haul of a legend by anchoring another Australian relay triumph at the world titles.
O'Callaghan has helped Australia's women's 4x200m freestyle relay team secure gold in Singapore on Thursday night.
The 21-year-old has 11 career golds at world titles, equalling the Australian record of Ian Thorpe.
O'Callaghan is favourite to win her 12th gold in the 100m freestyle on Friday night - she was fastest through the semis before swimming the relay.
"It was pretty rough backing it up ... (but) it's a dream to be part of this team," she said.
The victory of O'Callaghan, Lani Pallister, Jamie Perkins and Brittany Castelluzzo was Australia's third relay gold of the titles and came as the Dolphins also bagged two bronze medals on Thursday night.
Kyle Chalmers (men's 100m freestyle) and Lizzie Dekkers (women's 200m butterfly) both reached the podium.
Australia retain top spot on the medal tally with five golds, one silver and five bronze. The United States (four gold) is next best.
Dolphins stalwart Chalmers remains bullish of breaking a personal barrier after finishing behind Romania's sizzling David Popovici, who clocked the second-fastest time ever - 46.51 seconds - and American Jack Alexy (46.92).
Chalmers touched in 47.17 - he is yet to swim the race in less than 47 seconds, which is now the realm of world winners.
"Those guys saw a 46.4 last year and everyone has been training and believing they can swim 46 now - and 46 has become the new normal," Chalmers said.
"It's amazing how stacked that race is now."
Chalmers has twice logged personal best times of 47.08 and, at the age of 27, believes he can improve.
"I was never going to swim 46.5, or around that mark, unfortunately, I would have loved to see 46 next to my name," he said.
"But I'm really, really proud of that performance. To come away with a medal in such a stacked final is something I'm extremely proud of."
Earlier Thursday night, Dekkers took the bronze in a women's 200m butterfly won by Canadian star Summer McIntosh - the 18-year-old's third gold of the titles.
"Physically, I'm not at my best," said Dekkers, a late call-up to the team when Abbey Connor withdrew for personal reasons.
"So I knew that mentally, I had to be there ... I love racing, and that's why we all do this, because there's something about standing behind the blocks that we all love."
Swim star Mollie O'Callaghan has equalled the golden haul of a legend by anchoring another Australian relay triumph at the world titles.
O'Callaghan has helped Australia's women's 4x200m freestyle relay team secure gold in Singapore on Thursday night.
The 21-year-old has 11 career golds at world titles, equalling the Australian record of Ian Thorpe.
O'Callaghan is favourite to win her 12th gold in the 100m freestyle on Friday night - she was fastest through the semis before swimming the relay.
"It was pretty rough backing it up ... (but) it's a dream to be part of this team," she said.
The victory of O'Callaghan, Lani Pallister, Jamie Perkins and Brittany Castelluzzo was Australia's third relay gold of the titles and came as the Dolphins also bagged two bronze medals on Thursday night.
Kyle Chalmers (men's 100m freestyle) and Lizzie Dekkers (women's 200m butterfly) both reached the podium.
Australia retain top spot on the medal tally with five golds, one silver and five bronze. The United States (four gold) is next best.
Dolphins stalwart Chalmers remains bullish of breaking a personal barrier after finishing behind Romania's sizzling David Popovici, who clocked the second-fastest time ever - 46.51 seconds - and American Jack Alexy (46.92).
Chalmers touched in 47.17 - he is yet to swim the race in less than 47 seconds, which is now the realm of world winners.
"Those guys saw a 46.4 last year and everyone has been training and believing they can swim 46 now - and 46 has become the new normal," Chalmers said.
"It's amazing how stacked that race is now."
Chalmers has twice logged personal best times of 47.08 and, at the age of 27, believes he can improve.
"I was never going to swim 46.5, or around that mark, unfortunately, I would have loved to see 46 next to my name," he said.
"But I'm really, really proud of that performance. To come away with a medal in such a stacked final is something I'm extremely proud of."
Earlier Thursday night, Dekkers took the bronze in a women's 200m butterfly won by Canadian star Summer McIntosh - the 18-year-old's third gold of the titles.
"Physically, I'm not at my best," said Dekkers, a late call-up to the team when Abbey Connor withdrew for personal reasons.
"So I knew that mentally, I had to be there ... I love racing, and that's why we all do this, because there's something about standing behind the blocks that we all love."