Best in the West - Olympic champion Nina Kennedy OAM wins Channel 7 sport award
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Sydney Morning Herald
5 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘What you're doing is not normal': Why Mollie O can take swimming to uncharted waters
The Queenslander can be guilty of always looking ahead, a common trait among elite athletes. She's not caught up in milestones, instead fixated on the next training session with her coach Dean Boxall or the next opportunity to slash time off her personal best. 'She always seems to be winning a gold medal and breaking world records,' Chalmers said. 'I remember just chatting to her and being like, what you're doing is not normal. Please make sure you slow down and embrace this. It's happening nearly every night.' These world championships have been a dream for O'Callaghan: four races, three golds and a silver in the 100m freestyle, just 0.12 seconds off gold. It begs the question: where will O'Callaghan rank among the greats when she eventually tosses aside the goggles? She has been fortunate to compete at three world championships (2022, 2023, 2025) in such a short space of time, with COVID-19 disrupting the usual biennial schedule. Next year brings the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Championships, followed by the 2027 world titles in Budapest and the LA Olympics in 2028. Five-time Olympic champion Ian Thorpe – widely regarded as Australia's greatest swimmer – said this week he hopes O'Callaghan experiences the magic of a home Olympics in Brisbane 2032. By then, she could race at three more longcourse world championships – 2027, 2029 and 2031. At her current strike rate of about four golds a meet, she could reach 24 by 2031. O'Callaghan's youth may be her greatest asset. She'll be 24 at LA and 28 in Brisbane. Swimming beyond then is not out of the question. Swimmers are also competing for longer nowadays. Cate Campbell retired at 32, while her sister Bronte is 31 and still weighing up her future. Michael Phelps holds the record for the most world titles with 26. O'Callaghan already has as many Olympic golds as Thorpe – though two were earned as a heat swimmer in relays in Tokyo. Individual Olympic golds will likely define her legacy. She has one – last year's 200m freestyle – while Kaylee McKeown and Ariarne Titmus have four and three respectively. Thorpe won three individual golds across two Olympics. O'Callaghan has broken just one world record – the 200m freestyle at the 2023 world titles – a mark Titmus reclaimed at last year's Olympic trials. Thorpe's mythology partly lies in his 23 world records, often set in semi-finals before being broken again in the final. In the 100m freestyle, O'Callaghan's best time is 52.08. McKeon (51.96) and Cate Campbell (52.03) have both been faster. Australia's relay strength has also improved O'Callaghan's medal tally. McKeown, for example, can't swim in the 4x100m or 4x200m freestyle relays because she's a backstroker. But she is a supreme athlete with a huge future. 'She flies under the radar a bit because she's not only incredible individually, but carries our relays a lot of the time as well,' Chalmers said. 'She's someone I draw a lot of inspiration from.' A big smile spreads across O'Callaghan's face when she hears that Thorpe admires her doggedness and hopes she gets to experience a home Olympics in seven years' time. Loading 'He's a legend of the sport. For someone like that to talk about me is an honour,' O'Callaghan said. 'I would love to go until Brisbane. I've got a long career to go and I'm only 21. I have to think about that sometimes. I'm trying to get the best out this year for the longevity to get to LA and Brisbane.' So, what is O'Callaghan's ceiling? 'I don't think she has one,' said teammate Meg Harris. 'That girl just goes and goes. She gets so nervous but that's because of just how great she is. She's going to do great things and I'm so excited to be part of that journey with her.'
The Age
5 minutes ago
- The Age
‘What you're doing is not normal': Why Mollie O can take swimming to uncharted waters
The Queenslander can be guilty of always looking ahead, a common trait among elite athletes. She's not caught up in milestones, instead fixated on the next training session with her coach Dean Boxall or the next opportunity to slash time off her personal best. 'She always seems to be winning a gold medal and breaking world records,' Chalmers said. 'I remember just chatting to her and being like, what you're doing is not normal. Please make sure you slow down and embrace this. It's happening nearly every night.' These world championships have been a dream for O'Callaghan: four races, three golds and a silver in the 100m freestyle, just 0.12 seconds off gold. It begs the question: where will O'Callaghan rank among the greats when she eventually tosses aside the goggles? She has been fortunate to compete at three world championships (2022, 2023, 2025) in such a short space of time, with COVID-19 disrupting the usual biennial schedule. Next year brings the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Championships, followed by the 2027 world titles in Budapest and the LA Olympics in 2028. Five-time Olympic champion Ian Thorpe – widely regarded as Australia's greatest swimmer – said this week he hopes O'Callaghan experiences the magic of a home Olympics in Brisbane 2032. By then, she could race at three more longcourse world championships – 2027, 2029 and 2031. At her current strike rate of about four golds a meet, she could reach 24 by 2031. O'Callaghan's youth may be her greatest asset. She'll be 24 at LA and 28 in Brisbane. Swimming beyond then is not out of the question. Swimmers are also competing for longer nowadays. Cate Campbell retired at 32, while her sister Bronte is 31 and still weighing up her future. Michael Phelps holds the record for the most world titles with 26. O'Callaghan already has as many Olympic golds as Thorpe – though two were earned as a heat swimmer in relays in Tokyo. Individual Olympic golds will likely define her legacy. She has one – last year's 200m freestyle – while Kaylee McKeown and Ariarne Titmus have four and three respectively. Thorpe won three individual golds across two Olympics. O'Callaghan has broken just one world record – the 200m freestyle at the 2023 world titles – a mark Titmus reclaimed at last year's Olympic trials. Thorpe's mythology partly lies in his 23 world records, often set in semi-finals before being broken again in the final. In the 100m freestyle, O'Callaghan's best time is 52.08. McKeon (51.96) and Cate Campbell (52.03) have both been faster. Australia's relay strength has also improved O'Callaghan's medal tally. McKeown, for example, can't swim in the 4x100m or 4x200m freestyle relays because she's a backstroker. But she is a supreme athlete with a huge future. 'She flies under the radar a bit because she's not only incredible individually, but carries our relays a lot of the time as well,' Chalmers said. 'She's someone I draw a lot of inspiration from.' A big smile spreads across O'Callaghan's face when she hears that Thorpe admires her doggedness and hopes she gets to experience a home Olympics in seven years' time. Loading 'He's a legend of the sport. For someone like that to talk about me is an honour,' O'Callaghan said. 'I would love to go until Brisbane. I've got a long career to go and I'm only 21. I have to think about that sometimes. I'm trying to get the best out this year for the longevity to get to LA and Brisbane.' So, what is O'Callaghan's ceiling? 'I don't think she has one,' said teammate Meg Harris. 'That girl just goes and goes. She gets so nervous but that's because of just how great she is. She's going to do great things and I'm so excited to be part of that journey with her.'
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
One-word sledge Ashes nemesis Stuart Broad refuses to cop
As Stuart Broad prepares to commentate in the looming Ashes series Down Under, the retired England quick has been given a reminder of just how unpopular he is in Australia. The 39-year-old retired after the drawn Ashes series of 2023, finishing his outstanding career with 604 wickets from 167 Test matches in national colours. But the mere mention of the blond paceman's name lights a fire in the belly of countless Aussie cricket fans. Ever the antagonist, Broad etched his name in infamy during the first Test of the 2013 Ashes series in England when a healthy outside edge from Ashton Agar's bowling was caught by Michael Clarke at first slip (see below). Broad was famously given not out by umpire Aleem Dar, Clarke didn't have any more reviews and the Englishman, who was on 37 at the time, went on to make 65 in a match the home side won by 14 runs. It led to accusations of cheating and all sorts of commentary about the 'spirit of cricket' and was a hot topic when the return Ashes series took place in Australia just three months later. The Courier Mail in particular fired a series of shots at Broad ahead of the first Test at the Gabba and Michael Atherton referred to that drama when he asked the fast bowler about commentating for Channel 7 in Australia later this year. 'Well Stuart, just to reflect on a bit of news that emerged form Down Under overnight that seems to have gone down like a bucket of sick with the locals,' Atherton began on Sky Sports during England's current Test series with India. 'Namely that you're going to be commentating on one of the local channels in the Ashes. 'Just a reminder of how popular you are down there, the Brisbane Courier Mail couldn't bring themselves to put a photo of you on the front page. 'And then called you a 'smug Pommy cheat, Broad Ban'. Are you looking forward to going down to Australia this winter to commentate on the Ashes?' Broad had a cheeky grin on his face as he took the sledge from his compatriot and had no issue being called a cheat, which has been picked up by news outlets across the world. But there was one word he wasn't prepared to cop. 'Well, I sort of obviously agree with the Pommy and the cheat bit,' he said. 'But I don't think I'm smug.' The cricket world has since had a field day over the brief exchange, with many venting their feelings towards Broad and others relishing his looming appearance at Aussie grounds for what will be another heated contest. Podcaster Anthony Spiteri wrote on X: 'I loathed Stuart Broad … but I also loved his competitiveness and fire while playing for England. His commentary is some of the best of recent times. Be good to have him.' Indian cricket fan The Bakchod Bro tweeted: 'Yeah, popular like a mosquito at a barbecue. Aussies love Broady … for all the wrong reasons.' Paul White wrote: 'He can leave any reference to the 'spirit of cricket' at home. No English cricket player, unwashed fan, or talking head in the media has any concept of it.' Daniel Sanderson stated: 'Broad is a wind up merchant. The Aussies can't take any form of banter at all.' Matty Smith offered simply: 'Definitely smug.' Some hopeful Aussie cricket fans also suggested Broad would be very welcome to witness another defeat Down Under. 'He can come and commentate an Aussie 5 nil victory while he gets abused,' was one suggestion. 'I think it's great. He'll witness in person ANOTHER England series loss,' said a second. This summer's Ashes series commences in Perth on November 21 before it shifts to Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.
