2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES
- When: Pool swimming: Saturday, July 24 – Sunday, August 1, 2021
- Open Water swimming: Wednesday, August 4 – Thursday, August 5, 2021
- Where: Olympic Aquatics Centre / Tokyo, Japan
- Heats: 7 PM / Semifinals & Finals: 10:30 AM (Local time)
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Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan set a new World Junior Record in the 200 free in a time of 1:55.11. The 17-year-old led off Australia’s 4×200 free relay during Day 5 Prelims and lowered the previous record of 1:55.43 set by Yang Junxuan of China at the 2019 World Championships. Only Missy Franklin has been faster as a world junior swimmer. World Junior Records were not recognized when Franklin swam a blistering time of 1:55.03.
O’Callaghan smashed her own personal best time of 1:56.29 from the 2021 Australian Swimming Trials in mid-June. She shaved 1.18 seconds off her time to break the newest record. Although her time was well under the Fina ‘A’ standard at trials, O’Callaghan finished 6th in the event and was not selected to swim it in Tokyo.
A time of 1:55.11 would have finished 5th during in the final of the women’s 200 free on Day 4 of the Tokyo Olympics. Katie Ledekcy touched 5th in a time of 1:55.21, which is 0.1 seconds slower than what O’Callaghan went on her relay lead-off. Her teammate Ariarne Titmus took home the gold medal, coming from behind Siobhan Haughey to touch first in a time of 1:53.50.
O’Callaghan was joined on the relay by Meg Harris, Brianna Throssell, and Tamsin Cook. They finished first in the second semi-final in a time of 7.44.61. Australia is seeded first going into the final of the 4×200 free relay.
| Yang Junxuan (2019) | Mollie O’Callaghan | |
| 50 split | 27.00 | 27.25 |
| 100 split | 29.54 | 29.69 |
| 150 split | 29.61 | 29.76 |
| 200 split | 29.58 | 28.41 |
| Final | 1:55.43 | 1:55.11 |
How good is Mollie? She only just turned 17 in April.
She has with a flat start swam 53.02 for the 100 free & 1.55.11 for he 200 free.
Lots talking up some young swimmers like Summer McIntosh & Torrie Husske & Sullivan & Grimes, but we have a young superstar here ready to take on the mantle of Titmus & Campbells & McKeon.
Titmus still owns the Australian 17 years age record at 1:54.85 but not the WJR because she turned 18 that year.
The only good thing about this debacle is if it inspires Mollie to be swimming 52.50, 1-53 and (maybe) 58.0 backstroke at next AUS Champs/Trials.
And then she steps up even more in an international meet – like she has in Tokyo..
I love how you called it – its truly a debacle. And I hope this pushes Mollie even harder and faster. If she keeps her head on right, she’ll be the backbone of the freestyle relays for the next decade
Swimswam had to throw in Franklin…….ROFL
its fair to note that Franklin has the actual fastest World Junior Time
The Aussie ain’t just Campbell Macca and Titmus
There’s huge young depth.
About time one of the Australian women freestylers stepped up. They looked a bit short without her.
I don’t know why people are downvoting this when it’s clearly a joke. It made me chuckle.
Yeah, this is the same I thought during a race: they’re 98%-favorites, and then one of their supertalents improve her personal best by a second, lol.
Petition to Aus coaching staff to put Mollie in the final lineup!
Poor Mollie if she ends up being snubbed from two finals relays after outstanding splits.
She can cry into her gold medals….
It’s not the same. But at least in 2022, the coaching staff will not make the same mistake. Surely
There’s also the WR to think about. There’s a difference between being a part of that and not.
they might not break the WR if Neal is in the final swimming 1:58 from a flat start like she did in 2019 WC
yes i agree with you
molly and harris are good
if coach put leah and madi he will be the stupid coach in oz olympic history
Harris earned her finals swim in 4X100; she was the slowest leg in these heats so hard to justify her for the final.
Yeah, exactly. But if they include Mollie then I think it’s almost guaranteed that they do break the WR. 1:58…yuck. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.
dear oz swimming coach
line up for women 4 x 200fs relay should be molly, mag harris, mc keon and titmus.
titmus must swim in last leg
madi wilson and leah neale are neednt at all
Harris didn’t swim a good leg. The line-up should be Titmus – O’Callaghan – Wilson – McKeon except it’s against the rules not to include Neale.