Mollie O'Callaghan has equalled the Australian record for world championship golds after anchoring the women's 4x200m freestyle relay team to victory in Singapore. The 21-year-old's 11th career world title matches the record set by Ian Thorpe.
O'Callaghan is favourite to win her 12th gold in the 100m freestyle on Friday night after qualifying fastest. 'It was pretty rough backing it up … [but] it's a dream to be part of this team,' she said.
The victory of O'Callaghan, Lani Pallister, Jamie Perkins and Brittany Castelluzzo was Australia's third relay gold of the meet. Kyle Chalmers (men's 100m freestyle) and Lizzie Dekkers (women's 200m butterfly) both won bronze, keeping Australia top of the medal tally with five golds, one silver and five bronze.
Chalmers finished behind Romania's David Popovici and American Jack Alexy in the 100m freestyle but remains confident he can break 47 seconds. 'I desperately wanted to get a 46 out tonight, but it wasn't quite there,' he said. Chalmers and his partner, Norwegian swimmer Ingeborg Loyning, are expecting their first child next month.
Dekkers took bronze in the 200m butterfly won by Canadian Summer McIntosh. 'Physically, I'm not at my best … I knew that mentally, I had to be there,' Dekkers said.
