{"id":624746,"date":"2025-10-18T16:48:59","date_gmt":"2025-10-18T23:48:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=624746"},"modified":"2025-10-18T17:35:44","modified_gmt":"2025-10-19T00:35:44","slug":"flash-mollie-ocallaghan-blasts-world-record-in-200-freestyle-takes-even-into-sub-150-territory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/flash-mollie-ocallaghan-blasts-world-record-in-200-freestyle-takes-even-into-sub-150-territory\/","title":{"rendered":"FLASH! Mollie O’Callaghan Blasts World Record in 200 Freestyle; Takes Even into Sub-1:50 Territory"},"content":{"rendered":"

FLASH! Mollie O’Callaghan Blasts World Record in 200 Freestyle; Takes Even into Sub-1:50 Territory<\/strong><\/p>\n

One week after breaking the Australian record in the short-course version of the 200-meter freestyle, Mollie O\u2019Callaghan<\/strong> went faster than anyone in history in the event. Racing at the World Cup stop in Westmont (Ill.) on Saturday night, O\u2019Callaghan broke the world record with a performance of 1:49.77, the first sub-1:50 effort. That time bettered the previous standard, held by Hong Kong\u2019s Siobhan Haughey<\/strong> at 1:50.31 since the 2021 World Short Course Championships.<\/p>\n

A former world-record holder in the 200 freestyle (LC), O\u2019Callaghan was expected to threaten Haughey\u2019s record after her effort last week. At the opening leg of the World Cup circuit in Carmel (Ind.), O\u2019Callaghan clocked a mark of 1:50.77, which made her the No. 3 performer of all-time. Only Haughey and Sweden\u2019s Sarah Sjostrom<\/strong> (1:50.43) had been faster.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Callaghan didn\u2019t waste any time taking command of the final in the Chicago suburbs, as she opened with a split of 25.70 to take the lead over Dutchwoman Marrit Steenbergen by more than a half-second. O’Callaghan went through the midway point of the race in 53.59, which was more than a second faster than anyone in the field.<\/p>\n

Relying on her closing speed, which has always been a trademark of the 21-year-old, O’Callaghan split 28.30 for the third 50 meters and come home in 27.88 to punctuate the world record and break the 1:50 barrier. Overall, the major work was done on the front and back ends of the race, where O’Callaghan was significantly faster than Haughey.<\/p>\n

“I was so nervous all day,” O’Callaghan said. “I knew I was capable of doing that swim. It was just if. And a lot of times, it might not work out, but I knew I had two-tenths left to try and crack it. It\u2019s nice to do short course, it\u2019s such a big change from long course. It\u2019s a different beast at the end of the day. I have a great support team behind me to get me to this moment. I\u2019m thankful for them because truly, I wouldn\u2019t be here without them.”<\/span><\/p>\n

A comparison of the O\u2019Callaghan-Haughey splits:<\/p>\n

O\u2019Callaghan: 25.70-53.59 (27.89)-1:21.89 (28.30)-1:49.77 (27.88)<\/p>\n

Haughey: 26.20-53.81 (27.61)-1:22.03 (28.22)-1:50.31 (28.29)<\/p>\n

Behind O’Callaghan, countrywoman Lani Pallister<\/strong> was the runnerup, going 1:52.06 to finish ahead of American Anna<\/strong> Peplowski<\/strong>, who turned in a time of 1:52.54.<\/p>\n

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