Mollie O’Callaghan has shattered the women’s short course 200m freestyle world record

At just 21, O’Callaghan delivered a performance that redefined the event at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup, slicing more than half a second off the previous world record of 1:50.31 set by Hong Kong’s Siobhán Haughey in 2021. Her time left compatriot Lani Pallister, who swam a personal best, trailing by 2.29 seconds for silver.

The record comes at a symbolic moment for Australian swimming, just days after the shock retirement of Ariarne Titmus, the long-course world record holder and O’Callaghan’s training partner at St Peter’s Western. Titmus, who had taken the 200m long-course record from O’Callaghan at the 2024 Olympic trials, said she no longer had the drive for elite competition. In contrast, O’Callaghan proved in Illinois that she remains hungry; despite admitting it was difficult to return to training after her hugely successful Paris Olympics campaign.

Her 200m triumph was the highlight of a packed program. She also secured bronze in the 50m freestyle, where fellow Australian Alexandria Perkins claimed silver, and added further podium finishes in the 50m butterfly and backstroke. In the 50m backstroke, she was edged into third by Kaylee McKeown, who narrowly beat American Gretchen Walsh by just 0.02 seconds.

The weekend also saw fireworks in other events. On Sunday, McKeown was defeated in the 100m backstroke by her American rival Regan Smith, who equalled her own world record of 54.02 seconds to win by more than a second. Walsh, meanwhile, continued her blistering form in the sprints, reinforcing her dominance in the butterfly.

For O’Callaghan, however, the spotlight is firmly on her historic 200m swim. By breaking the 1:50 barrier, she has not only rewritten the record books but also signaled the dawn of a new era for Australian swimming in the post-Titmus landscape. Her performance cements her status as the standard-bearer for the next generation, with the 100m freestyle still to come in Illinois offering another chance to showcase her dominance.

Tags: Mollie O’Callaghan world record, 200m freestyle short course, Westmont Illinois Swimming World Cup, Ariarne Titmus retirement, Lani Pallister silver medal, Kaylee McKeown vs Regan Smith, Gretchen Walsh butterfly sprint, Australian swimming new era, Mollie O’Callaghan Paris Olympics, women’s 200m freestyle history.