O’Callaghan is already in rarefied air, sitting alongside Thorpe (11) on the high of Australia’s all-time gold medal tally on the world championships, with Grant Hackett (10), Libby Trickett (8), Madi Wilson (8), Michael Klim (7) and Leisel Jones (7) rounding out these she’s surpassed or drawn degree with in simply three years.
Talking to this masthead in between commentary duties for Channel 9, Thorpe congratulated O’Callaghan and outlined what makes her so particular.
“It’s reflective of a profession that’s occurred in a short time from a younger age,” Thorpe mentioned. “Essentially the most thrilling factor is that the chance of this persevering with is fairly excessive.
“The occasions Mollie swims – the 100m and 200m freestyle – are two of essentially the most aggressive yow will discover on this system. They’re the blue riband occasions which might be extremely aggressive, and she or he is nailing it. Hats off to her and congratulations as a result of it’s an enormous achievement. That is the place her story continues now. She’s making a legacy within the sport.
“She’s doggedly decided. I feel most of us have had that in our personal distinctive method. Her expertise below strain are exceptional. They know that final massive flip is coming from Mollie.
“I don’t consider Mollie or any athlete jumps into the pool after they’re younger or makes their first nationwide crew and says, ‘I need to accomplish this many world championship gold medals as a result of it’s greater than another person’. It doesn’t issue into what you’re doing.”
O’Callaghan, who turned 21 in April, competed at her first Olympics in Tokyo as a 17-year-old earlier than successful her maiden world title the next 12 months in Budapest.
She picked up 100m freestyle gold in 2022 and 2023, in addition to 200m freestyle gold in 2023 and once more this week.
Thorpe received 400m freestyle gold as a 15-year-old on the 1998 world championships earlier than changing into an Australian hero on the Sydney Olympics by claiming three gold and two silver at a house Video games.
Thorpe’s 11 world titles got here within the 1998, 2001 and 2003 world championships. At his peak, the “Thorpedo” held particular person world data within the 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle.
Australia’s Ian Thorpe reveals off his gold medal following the lads’s 400-metre freestyle swimming occasion on the Sydney 2000 Olympic Video games. Credit score: Sygma by way of Getty Photos
O’Callaghan was born in Brisbane in 2004 and might be 28 when the Olympics arrive in Australia in her house city.
“I hope to see Mollie proceed for a house Olympic Video games,” Thorpe mentioned. “I need as many athletes – present ones and people who we don’t actually learn about – to expertise that.
“The occasions may be barely totally different, however on the subject of an Olympics at house, there’s an incredible lure to do it. She received’t know whether or not she desires to for an additional three years.”
“She’s a part of telling a narrative about swimming on this nation, and we proceed to achieve success. I really like that for Mollie, and she or he’s probably going to be a pacesetter on the subject of future Olympic Video games.”
Elsewhere, Australia’s males’s 4x200m freestyle relay crew of Flynn Southam, Charlie Hawke, Kai Taylor and Max Giuliani (7:00.98) snared a bronze medal behind Nice Britain (6:59.84) and China (7:00.91) because the USA’s dismal relay run continued with a fourth end.
“We’re such a younger crew … and I feel come 2028 we’re going to be an actual power to be reckoned with,” Giuliani mentioned.
Cam McEvoy and Kaylee McKeown cruised into their respective 50m freestyle and 200m backstroke finals forward of what looms as a blockbuster Saturday evening.
Finals begin from 9pm AEST.
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McEvoy, a brand new father, clocked 21.30 in his semi-final and mentioned he was “in fairly fine condition” as he eyes one other world title after his breakthrough win in 2023.
“It suggests I’m in fairly fine condition,” McEvoy mentioned. “It was virtually higher than my [winning] Paris time [21.25].
He’ll spend the morning unwinding with a spherical of Name of Responsibility – “it’s good for the nervous system” – earlier than unleashing most pace.
McKeown will begin in lane six after posting a semi-final time of two:08.36, effectively outdoors her world document of two:03.14.
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