Mollie O’Callaghan Has Chance to Further Display Backstroke Talent
Is this the year the excellence of Mollie O’Callaghan in the backstroke will be as appreciated as her prowess in the freestyle events?
A scan of the all-time rankings in the 100-meter freestyle shows O’Callaghan occupying the No. 7 position, thanks to a personal-best performance of 52.08. In the 200 freestyle, the 21-year-old holds the No. 2 slot, from her 1:52.48 outing at the 2024 Australian Olympic Trials. The reigning Olympic champion in the 200 freestyle, O’Callaghan owns six individual medals between the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle at the World Championships.
But what about the backstroke? Sometimes, an athlete doesn’t receive due credit in a specific discipline, largely because other exploits prove overshadowing. This type of underappreciation is the case for O’Callaghan when it comes to the backstroke events, which have been dominated by another Aussie, Kaylee McKeown. O’Callaghan boasts sparkling career-bests in the 50 backstroke and 100 backstroke, and this year could provide an opportunity to display that talent further.
A Schedule Shuffle?
It’s been previously noted that the 2026 campaign is unique in nature, due to the absence of a truly global championship meet. Without an Olympic Games or World Championships highlighting the calendar, regional competitions will take center stage. O’Callaghan could compete in both the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Championships, scheduled for the summer in Scotland and Southern California, respectively.
If O’Callaghan contests both international meets, she could opt to place emphasis on the backstroke events at one of the competitions. A decision in that direction would be interesting, as O’Callaghan hasn’t had the opportunity to flash her maximum talent in the stroke. Still, she is highly ranked, sitting 11th all-time in the 50 backstroke (27.16) and rating fifth in the 100 backstroke at 57.88. O’Callaghan is one of women to break the 58-second barrier in the 100 back.
O’Callaghan’s personal best in the 100 backstroke was registered at the 2024 Australian Olympic Trials, where she finished behind McKeown to earn a berth to the Paris Games. Ultimately, O’Callaghan decided to bypass the event in the French capital, a decision that allowed Iona Anderson to race the 100 backstroke at the Olympics.
While we will never know what O’Callaghan would have done when battling McKeown and American Regan Smith at La Defense Arena, there is time for that matchup to develop. Perhaps Pan Pacs is the setting, where fans of the sport could get a glimpse of O’Callaghan’s backstroke skill at peak level.