World Championships: Aussie Women Have a Lock On All-Time Top Splits in 100 Freestyle

Mollie O'callaghan of Australia reacts after winning the gold medal in the 100m Freestyle Women Final during the 20th World Aquatics Championships at the Marine Messe Hall A in Fukuoka (Japan), July 28th, 2023.

Editorial content for the 2023 World Aquatics Championships is sponsored by FINIS, a longtime partner of Swimming World and leading innovator of suits, goggles and equipment.

World Championships: Aussie Women Have a Lock On All-Time Top Splits in 100 Freestyle

The excellence of Australian relays has been vividly on display over the past week at the World Championships in Fukuoka. Through six relays, there have been four Aussie triumphs, including three world-record performances. In particular, Australia’s splits for the women’s 400-meter freestyle relay have been downright stunning through the years.

Historically, the Dolphins boast the 13-fastest splits in history for the 100 freestyle, those efforts spanning five women – Cate Campbell, Emma McKeon, Shayna Jack, Bronte Campbell and Mollie O’Callaghan. More, Australia owns 16 of the top-18 splits. For one country to own that type of dominance is startling, but it also equates to the repeated gold-medal success that has been achieved on the global stage.

(Note: Swedish star Sarah Sjostrom is tied with O’Callaghan for the No. 13 slot).

While the Campbell sisters were not in Fukuoka, McKeon, Jack and O’Callaghan were superb, as was Meg Harris. The first three women all split sub-52 at some point during the World Champs, with Jack managing four such efforts. Meanwhile, Harris was 52-low, and together the quartet set a world record of 3:27.96 in the 400 freestyle relay.

Less than one year out from the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Australia is as big a favorite as there is in a relay event. Not only do the Dolphins figure on additional growth from the squad that raced at the World Championships, the potential of Cate Campbell returning to the fray is an exciting prospect. If nothing else, the competition to earn relay positions will be fierce.

Here’s a look at the fastest 100 freestyle splits in history. All but Sarah Sjostrom are Australian.

Cate Campbell – 50.93
Cate Campbell – 51.00
Cate Campbell – 51.10
Cate Campbell – 51.19
Emma McKeon – 51.35
Cate Campbell – 51.36
Cate Campbell – 51.45
Shayna Jack – 51.53
Bronte Campbell – 51.57
Cate Campbell – 51.59
Shayna Jack – 51.66
Shayna Jack – 51.69
Mollie O’Callaghan – 51.71
Sarah Sjostrom – 51.71

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