Paris Olympics: Mollie O’Callaghan rises to occasion to absorb pressure and make statement in gold medal win

The bleary-eyed casual observers waking up in the early hours of the Australian morning could be forgiven for thinking the highly-anticipated women’s 200m freestyle final was Ariarne Titmus’ race to lose.

Now a household name after her considerable Olympic feats, Titmus started as a slight favourite over Mollie O’Callaghan for the battle royale between teammates who share a coach and train together in a suburban Brisbane pool.

This was truly a clash of styles: The self-admitted “nervous wreck” O’Callaghan, a short-form specialist with everything to prove as an individual at Olympic level, up against Titmus, who’s comfortable in slightly longer events and has the ice-cool demeanour of someone who’s already achieved so much at the pinnacle of the sport.

O’Callaghan entered as the Commonwealth Games and World Championships titleholder, but Titmus owned the world and Olympic records.

And as they entered La Defense Arena, the contrast in approaches — at least externally — was evident.

O’Callaghan walked briskly, adjusting her goggles, shaking her hands, and blocking out the cheers from the crowd. Titmus had a slower strut, gave a wave to the crowd, and beamed a knowing smile.

As 20-year-old O’Callaghan shook as she tinkered with her goggles in the moments before diving into the pool, questions abounded over whether she could handle the pressure of a lifetime.

But make no mistake: Once she’s in the water, Mollie O’Callaghan is a stone-cold killer. And less than two minutes after leaving the blocks, the whole world knew it.

The Queenslander absorbed the pressure, refusing to be intimidated by the weight of the occasion and backing herself to fly home in the final 50m after turning in third place. And fly she did, quickly hitting the front for the sprint home and never looking like surrendering her advantage to outlast Titmus by a considerable 0.54 seconds and snatch her teammate’s Olympic record.

A race plan executed to perfection. A moment handled superbly. And a statement was made.

O’Callaghan possessed three gold medals before the day began - all through relay events - but this one felt different. A weight had been lifted, and the relief in her voice was there for all to hear post-race.

“You’ve just got to accept the challenge. You can either run or you can fight, and I chose to fight,” O’Callaghan said after her swim.

“I’m always striving for more and I always put a lot of pressure on myself. My expectations are very high.”

Having taken a moment to soak in her achievement, O’Callaghan unleashed her beaming smile, and upon climbing out of the pool, she let the fans share in her joy.

She was aided brilliantly by the ever-classy Titmus, who defied her own disappointment by making the moment all about her teammate. The pair linked hands and raised them to salute the fans, and O’Callaghan later invited Titmus onto the top podium to share the national anthem, arm in arm.

For all the headlines made by Titmus and Emma McKeon across the past two Games, O’Callaghan is surging — final 50m style — towards joining them in Olympic lore.

At just 20, she is now the youngest Australian athlete to possess four gold medals, surpassing 21-year-olds Murray Rose and Ian Thorpe.

And the scariest thing for her rivals? Her career-defining win could unleash the shackles, with an ominous warning that her best may be yet to come — starting with the 100m freestyle final, where she’ll start as favourite.

“There’s less pressure,” O’Callaghan said after her victory.

“Now I get to swim freely.”