Tokyo Olympics 2021: Mollie O’Callaghan and Madi Wilson miss out on 4x100 final

Mollie O’Callaghan and Madi Wilson will get their moment in the sun after missing out on selection for Australia’s triumphant 4x100m relay team. Find out how.

Bronte Campbell and Meg Harris joined Emma McKeon and Cate Campbell in Sunday’s final of the women’s 4x100m freestyle.

The Australians stormed to victory in world record time, although there were two hardluck stories in their team of six swimmers.

McKeon and Cate Campbell both sat out the heats, with Mollie O’Callaghan and Madi Wilson teaming up with Bronte and Harris to post the fastest qualifying time.

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Australia’s Mollie O'Callaghan and teammates prepare to compete in a heat for the women's 4x100m freestyle relay. Picture: AFP

Under Olympic rules, anyone who swims in the heats gets the same medals as the finalists, but just not at the official ceremony.

Instead, heat swimmers get presented with their medals at the end of the competition at a private team ceremony.

“It’s really very special because if you’re in the final you get to present the heat swimmers with their medals. It’s just so nice,” Madi Wilson said.

“We’re all such close friends and we all get around each other and support each other and I know we’re not supposed to give each other a hug, but sometimes we can’t help it.”

Olympic legend Ian Thorpe said it was a tough call for swimmers who missed out.

“We are going to be dominant in this race,” Thorpe said.

“This is going to be a coach’s call. We have a head coach who is going to make all the tough calls for the relay.

“It’s going to be tough for the person who misses out, but they will understand. They may go with Bronte in this because of experience.”