It was a moment Mollie O’Callaghan had dreamed about for years. At the Tokyo Olympics, just 17, the Australian had been a member of three medal-winning relays, but as a heat swimmer she did not have the opportunity to stand on the podium.
On Saturday night, as a key part of Australia’s gold-medal winning women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team, O’Callaghan finally stood on the Olympic podium with her team-mates. Then, on Monday night in Paris, O’Callaghan stood alone on the top step – having won her first individual Olympic gold medal with a scintillating victory in the 200m freestyle.
Only O’Callaghan did not want to be alone. As the Australian anthem began to play, O’Callaghan turned to her compatriot, training partner and rival Ariarne Titmus. The 200m had been a frenetic battle between them – defending Olympic champion against world champion, current world record holder against former holder. Titmus had won the duel at last month’s Olympic trials, but in Paris, when it mattered most, it was O’Callaghan who emerged triumphant.
Standing atop the podium with a gold medal around her neck, O’Callaghan invited Titmus to join her. The pair stood together, arms around each other, as they sang Advance Australia Fair. Not one but two Australians elevated on the dais – recognition of Titmus’s role in inspiring O’Callaghan to greatness, and of Titmus’s own heroics. Short of the pair touching in a dead-heat and sharing gold, it was perhaps the most fitting way for this gladiatorial battle to end.
It was equally appropriate that, in the bowels of La Défense Arena after the race O’Callaghan’s first instinct was to praise Titmus. “She deserves so much – it’s incredible, this is her second medal and it’s day three,” said the Queenslander. “Like – come on! That’s amazing.” The feeling was mutual – Titmus choked back tears, happy tears she insisted, as she praised O’Callaghan.
This was elite swimming at its finest. Either of the Australians, each coached by Dean Boxall, would have been a deserving winner. But only one could triumph. And in the end it was O’Callaghan’s finishing speed, and her lethal underwater work, that sealed the win.
The 20-year-old touched fifth at the first 50m, and was still fifth at the 100m mark. By the final turn, she had moved into third. That turn was the critical moment of the race. O’Callaghan’s kicking ability is superb; she dives deeper and stays down longer than her opponents. Despite touching in third, by the time O’Callaghan had resurfaced, she was in front of Titmus. Once she was in the lead, no-one was going to overcome her – the two-time 100m world champion turning on the pace she has honed in the shorter discipline to win by half a second.
Following one of the blockbuster races on the Australian team program, attention now turns to the days ahead. After three evenings of finals, the Dolphins have won three gold medals and three silver medals. On that trajectory, with another six days of racing ahead, the team could match their record Olympic performance from Tokyo, of nine golds. The prospect of another record-breaking haul beckons.
In some respects, the outcome on Monday night only helps Australia’s overall chances in the pool. This is so for two reasons. O’Callaghan has made no secret from the fact that she struggles with nerves and anxiety before a big race. “Today I was a nervous wreck,” she said. “I couldn’t nap, I couldn’t do anything. My brain just overthinks.”
But the Paris program for the newly-crowned 200m freestyle champion has only just begun. On Tuesday she will race through the heats and semi-finals in the 100m freestyle, before the final on Wednesday. On Thursday, she will be called on in the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay. She may also play a role in the women’s and mixed medley relays. All in all, Australia needs O’Callaghan firing in the days ahead – and conquering her nerves to win the 200m race on Monday will surely help.
Titmus, too, has a busy schedule. And the silver medal will only add fuel to her inner fire. The Tasmanian will join O’Callaghan in the 4x200m relay squad, with Australia a very strong favourite. Then on Saturday, in the penultimate day of the meet, she will go for gold in the 800m freestyle race against Katie Ledecky.
The American has won the 800m race at the last three Olympics, and every major world championship going back to 2013. Titmus was second to Ledecky in Tokyo, and has never beaten the legendary middle-distance swimmer over that distance. Her loss to O’Callaghan on Monday will only add extra motivation. Just as O’Callaghan dethroned Titmus, is it Ledecky’s turn to be dethroned from her pet event?
After O’Callaghan and Titmus had shared the podium, the gold medallist thanked those around her. “This medal is for my support team, my coach, my family, it’s not just for me,” O’Callaghan said. “There’s a whole village behind me, getting me to this point. I’m very thankful to have them.”
She did not say it in as many words, but one member of that village is Titmus. O’Callaghan is better for her friend and rival, and vice versa. Australia is blessed to have two truly great freestyle swimmers in its women’s program at the same time. On Monday night, as the pair stood on the top step of the podium together, that much was abundantly clear.
