Australian Trials, Day 3, Finals: Mollie O’Callaghan’s 1:54.43 The Fastest 200m Freestyle Of The Year Before A Raw And Emotional Breakdown On Pool Deck
Olympic champion Mollie O’Callaghan broken down in tears on pool deck at the Australian Trials in Adelaide tonight, after posting the fastest time in the world this year, clocking 1:54.43 to win her pet 200 freestyle final as Australia introduced a crop of exciting new stars.
The 21-year-old admitted she has struggled to cope with the post-Olympic period, coping with everything that goes with being the Olympic champion, and a second knee dislocation which has disrupted her return to the pool.
Mollie O, as she is affectionately known, broke down when describing how nervous she was before the race tonight with the pressure she has confronted.
But it came after O’Callaghan rose above that pressure and produced a memorable victory; sitting close enough to early leader Hannah Casey (Bond, QLD) and keeping an eye on her St Peters Western training partners, the top two in the 400m here, Lani Pallister and Jamie Perkins. before getting ready to pounce.
And when the pressure was on coming into the final turn Mollie O powered down the last 50m, holding off the fast finishing Pallister (1:54.89) with Perkins and Abbey Webb (Cruiz, ACT) also storming home to dead-heat for fourth in 1.56.09.
Brittany Castelluzzo (Tea Tree Gully, SA) in 1:57.04 finished in sixth – all times under the Swimming Australia qualifying time and a huge show of strength and depth in the Australian program.
Mollie opened up to four-time Olympian Cate Campbell on Channel 9, admitting the last nine months has been rough.
“Tonight was really stressful for me and I think it’s not the time I exactly wanted, it’s just hard to come back. I think this lead up has been the hardest thing I’ve experienced so far just to make the team this year,” said O’Callaghan.
“I don’t think there’s been anything as hard as this, coming here and trying to race and trying to defend my Olympic status. I’m so happy that I stood up in this race which is my main event.
“I’m very excited to do it alongside Lani. She raced amazing with a big personal best. I’m really proud of her and what everyone accomplished in this final tonight.”
For Pallister, who became the seventh swimmer to break four minutes to win the 400m on the opening night in 3:59.72, clocked another personal best time with her 1:54.89, the second fastest time in the world behind O’Callaghan and the fourth Australian to break 1:55.00.
Pallister joined world record holder Ariarne Titmus (1:52.23), previous world record holder O’Callaghan (1:52.48) and Australia’s most successful Olympic medalist Emma McKeon (1:54.55) in the sub 1:55 club.
And also joining the personal best club are Perkins and Webb – ranking them equal 13th in the world and Castelluzzo 19th – giving Australia six swimmers in the top 20 in the world.
Pallister made the move to St Peters Western and new coach Dean Boxall this year saying she felt lucky after the Olympics last year to make the move.
“I think once I was in that environment my perspective completely changed,” said Pallister, on pool deck supporting O’Callaghan.
“To swim day-in-day-out with Mollie, some of the sets she does are absolutely incredible. Mollie is such a tough critic on herself.
“I (sent her a) text this morning and told her that I drew inspiration from her. To be in the pool with Mollie (and our team mate) Jamie Perkins and the 200 girls it’s going to be an exciting 4×200 this summer.
“Those times tonight are so good, I think it’ll be a really tough battle between us and the Americans, but we are all keen to give it a crack and I can’t wait to represent my country in Singapore.”