Mollie O’Callaghan reckons it’s “weird” to be the first woman to sweep the 100m and 200m freestyle titles at a world championships.
The Australian 19-year-old triumphed in the 100m freestyle final on Friday night in Japan, with compatriot Emma McKeon finishing fifth.
The victory, her fourth gold in Fukuoka, creates swimming history.
“It’s so weird, I am not going to lie, it’s such a weird feeling,” O’Callaghan said.
“I didn’t even know that no woman has done that. And to be the first, it’s just incredible.
“There’s no words to explain it, I am just so thrilled.
“I am just trying to keep my emotions in tact and keep it controlled at the moment and taking it day by day and I haven’t really thought too much about everything.”
O’Callaghan broke the oldest record in women’s swimming in claiming the 200m freestyle crown and helped Australia set world records in the 4x100m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle relays in Fukuoka.
In the 100m final, O’Callaghan defended her title from last year’s championships in Budapest.
After turning in seventh place, the Queenslander produced what is becoming a trademark: a final-lap flourish, to touch in 52.16 seconds.
McKeon, the Olympic champion in the event, was third at the turn and finished in 52.83.
AAP
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