The Squiz 

After months of build-up to one of the most anticipated races in the Paris pool, the Olympic women’s 200m freestyle title has gone to Mollie O’Callaghan. She’s beaten reigning champ Ariarne Titmus to take her first individual gold medal, setting a new Olympic record in the process. Billed as a “civil war” because of their close working relationship, it was a race between training partners/world record rivals. Going into it, O’Callaghan said she was feeling the pressure. “I want to do well for Australia, I want to do well for my swim team, I want to do well for everyone” – and now she has. 

This was huge… 

Yep, and there’s a lot of focus on the women’s unique situation. Titmus started her Paris campaign strong by winning the 400m freestyle on Saturday night, becoming the second Australian woman after Dawn Fraser to defend an Olympic title in the pool. O’Callaghan, on the other hand, is known for her speed – and she absolutely showed that this morning. Last year, she broke the world record in this event, and beat Titmus at the world championships in Japan, before Titmus snatched it back at the Olympic trials in June when she set the current time to beat… And all of that is before you get to coach Dean Boxall, who has both women under his charge at the same pool in Brisbane. He’s known for his poolside theatrics but simply raised his hands in the air this morning in tribute to the women. 

What else is happening for Australia in the pool?

There’s plenty – here’s a good summary of what events our Dolphins are hoping to do well in. To summarise, Kaylee McKeown and Iona Anderson have booked places in the 100m backstroke final early tomorrow morning. Kyle Chalmers (aka King Kyle) is hoping to become the fifth man in history to win multiple men’s 100m freestyle titles when he swims in the final early on Thursday morning. Cam McEvoy – who’s been “hitting some PBs in the water” in the lead-up to Paris – is hoping to win our first-ever gold in the men’s 50m freestyle early on Saturday morning. And although our most decorated Olympian Emma McKeon has said farewell to her individual Olympic career after coming 6th in the women’s 100m butterfly final yesterday morning, it’s not the last we’ll see of her. She’s hoping to add more medals to her impressive tally in several relay events later this week. C’mon Aussie…