Aussies claim gold as Mollie O'Callaghan matches Ian Thorpe in stunning scenes at worlds

Mollie O'Callaghan has equalled Australian swimming legend Ian Thorpe's record of 11 gold medals at the world championships after anchoring her nation to victory in the women's 4x200m freestyle relay. The Aussie quartet of Lani Pallister, Jamie Perkins, Brittany Castelluzzo and O'Callaghan stormed home to claim gold ahead of their fierce rivals from the USA, with China claiming bronze.

While O'Callaghan finished off the relay superbly to see Australia clock a winning time of seven minutes, 39.35 seconds (7:39.35), it was an extraordinary third leg from Castelluzzo that set up victory. After trailing American Erin Gemmell by a full body length, Castelluzzo surged ahead in the final 50m to give O'Callaghan a slender advantage going into the decisive final leg.

Mollie O'Callaghan swam a brilliant anchor leg to clinch gold for Australia in the women's 4x200m freestyle relay to match Ian Thorpe's record of 11 gold medals at the worlds. Pic: Getty/Nine

The Aussie champion still had her work cut out against American icon Katie Ledecky, and clearly looked tired after her swims in the 100m freestyle heat and semi-final earlier in the day. But O'Callaghan managed to hold off the greatest female swimmer of all time to seal a remarkable win for the Aussie team, who were missing two of their Paris Games gold medallists.

Brianna Throssell called time on her career after Paris and four-time Olympic Games gold medallist Ariarne Titmus missed the meet after deciding to take a break from swimming. But the new-look team picked up where the Aussie golden girls had left off, with O'Callaghan cemented her status as one of the nation's greatest ever swimmers.

"It's everything to me," O'Callaghan said after the relay win left her with three gold medals at these world titles. "I take any opportunity to come and do this event. "I knew I had to lift for this. I'm always here for the relays.

Gold medalists Lani Pallister, Jamie Perkins, Brittany Castelluzzo and Mollie O’Callaghan celebrate their women's 4x200m freestyle triumph for Australia. Pic: Getty

"It's a great privilege because it shows the depth that we have. It just shows the depth coming through to LA [the 2028 Olympics], and to start off like this is just incredible." O'Callaghan's wins in the 200m freestyle, as well as the 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relays, saw her equal Thorpe's national record of 11 golds at the worlds, and she could overtake the Aussie legend with a 100m freestyle final and more relays to come.

"Actually, I haven't really thought about it too much," she said about Thorpe's record. "Coming off [the] Olympics last year and having the downs of the break and the post-Olympics blues and then injuring myself, it's just been a rollercoaster. And to come along here and to compete in the finals [and] to get golds is just something I wouldn't believe at the start of the year, or last year."

Meanwhile, Kyle Chalmers' quest to break the 47-second barrier and claim his second 100m freestyle world title came up just short in one of the fastest finals of all time. The Aussie star claimed bronze in a time of 47.17 which was quicker than his 2016 Olympic gold medal swim and silver medal effort at the Paris Games.

Aussie swimming star Kyle Chalmers (R) had to settle for bronze in the men's 100m final after Romania's David Popovici (centre) took gold ahead of American Jack Alexy (L). Pic: Getty

But Romanian sensation David Popovici - who had already won the 200m freestyle - made it a double by swimming the second-fastest 100m freestyle time of all time to claim gold. Popovici's blistering 46.51 was just short of Chinese star Pan Zhanle's world record, with American Jack Alexy taking out silver in 46.92.  

Chalmers said he'd been 'training hard' and 'desperately wanted' to swim sub-47 seconds but was still thrilled to claim bronze. “To get on the podium is so special,” he said. “It’s incredible. 

"It was the fastest race in history to make it through that final, and I really believe that anyone could have won that race. We obviously didn’t even have the world’s record holder in that race, so it was amazing. 46.5 is insane. Crazy.”

with AAP

This article originally appeared on Yahoo Sport Australia at https://au.news.yahoo.com/aussies-claim-gold-as-mollie-ocallaghan-matches-ian-thorpe-in-stunning-scenes-at-worlds-215658016.html

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