O’Callaghan, the reigning Olympic and world champion in the long-course (50m pool) version of the event, became the first woman to break the one-minute 50-second barrier in a 25-metre pool, clocking 1:49.77.
O’Callaghan also pocketed a US$10,000 bonus ($15,500 AUD) for breaking the world record.
Mollie O’Callaghan reacts to breaking the women’s 200m freestyle world record (shortcourse).Credit: Eurovision
“I was so nervous all day,” O’Callaghan told Swimming World after the race. “I knew I was capable of doing that swim.
“It’s nice to do short course, it’s such a big change from long course. It’s a different beast at the end of the day.
“I have a great support team behind me to get me to this moment.”
O’Callaghan had shown ominous form last week, posting a personal best of 1:50.77.
The record capped a turbulent fortnight for O’Callaghan, who has been the target of a vile fake news campaign on Facebook.
A page with about 13,000 followers has been posting – and continues to do so – fabricated news stories about O’Callaghan, many relating to transgender athlete Lia Thomas.
One post falsely claimed O’Callaghan would boycott the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics if a transgender swimmer were allowed to compete.
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Other false posts alleged O’Callaghan had signed a “$13.5 million Netflix deal for a seven-episode documentary”, been “harassed during a promotional event with Emirates”, and been accused by Dutch rival Marrit Steenbergen of using “an illegal performance-enhancing device”. All claims are baseless.
Swimming Australia issued a statement last week condemning the posts.
“There are currently fabricated quotes attributed to Dolphin Mollie O’Callaghan appearing on social media posts,” the statement said.
“At no stage has O’Callaghan been interviewed and provided commentary on transgender athletes. Meta has been advised of the fake news, and O’Callaghan and Swimming Australia have requested the posts to be taken down.”
