Mollie O’Callaghan Reflects on Breakthrough World Championships, Looks Ahead to Commonwealth Games (VIDEO)
At her first World Championships last month in Budapest, 18-year-old Australian Mollie O’Callaghan captured six medals, including individual gold in the 100 freestyle, silver in the 200 free and a pair of relay golds. In her gold-medal-winning swim in the 100 free, O’Callaghan flipped in sixth place at the halfway point but closed in 26.71, almost seven tenths quicker than anyone else in the field, as she overtook world-record holder Sarah Sjostrom and others to claim the world title.
O’Callaghan has remained in Europe since Worlds as she and the rest of Team Australia prepare for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, with the swimming competition set to begin Friday, July 29. In a video interview provided by Swimming Australia, O’Callaghan shared some thoughts on her performance in Budapest and what she expects from the Commonwealth Games, where Olympic star Emma McKeon is among those slated to rejoin the Aussie squad.
“I guess reflecting on Budapest is quite crazy, and it’s still settling in, but also I’ve got to remember I’ve still got Comm Games coming up, so I can’t stay too focused on Worlds. I’ve got to keep striving forward,” O’Callaghan said.
After Trials, I kind of mentally struggled a little bit throughout preparing for Worlds, and then after Worlds, I got a bit sick. I guess it’s just trying to surround myself with great people and just continue to train hard and stay focused but also enjoy it.
O’Callaghan will be among the medal favorites in the 100 and 200 free at the Games, and she might also add the 50 and 100 backstroke to her lineup. She is currently ranked in the top-eight in the world for 2022 in both of those events.
The full interview, courtesy of Swimming Australia, is posted below, and the video also includes footage of O’Callaghan training with her Aussie teammates at a preparation camp in Chartres, France.
