There’s something about Mollie O’Callaghan, and everyone inside Australian swimming knows it. The world 100m and 200m freestyle champion is shaping as one of the most important athletes for Australia at this year’s Olympic Games – one who could return with at least a fistful of medals.
O’Callaghan has just turned 20 but is on track to becoming an international star. At last year’s world championships in Fukuoka, she claimed both the 100m and 200m freestyle titles, defeating Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus in the latter. She also took down one of the most revered world records in the sport, the 14-year-old 200m monument established by Italy’s Federica Pellegrini.
