Mollie O’Callaghan on Ian Thorpe’s record and her friendship with Kaylee McKeown

She’s already Australian swimming’s golden girl, but Mollie O’Callaghan is now on the cusp of becoming the country’s most successful and judging by this response – the most modest.

Australian swimmers Kaylee McKeown and Mollie O'Callaghan in Darwin ahead of the World Swimming Championships in Singapore. Photo – Delly Caarr/Swimming Australia

She’s already Australian swimming’s golden girl, but Mollie O’Callaghan is now on the cusp of becoming the most successful Dolphins swimmer in World Championships history.

As the 2025 World Aquatics Championships begin in Singapore on Sunday, the 21-year-old from St Peters Western is chasing a record that would place her alongside the sport’s greatest legends.

O’Callaghan currently holds eight World Championship gold medals — tied with Libby Trickett and Madi Wilson, and trailing only Grant Hackett (10) and Ian Thorpe (11).

With seven events on her program in Singapore, including the 100m and 200m freestyle and five relays, the opportunity is there to rewrite history.

If she wins four of her events, she will surpass Thorpe and claim the title of Australia’s most decorated World Championships swimmer.

“Am I really near Thorpey’s record? I can’t believe that,” O’Callaghan told The Sunday Mail.

“That is not something I keep track of … maybe I will reflect on that when I retire, oh not that that is anytime soon!”

With a mix of modesty and awe, O’Callaghan acknowledged the legacy she is becoming a part of.

“In our team room we have posters up of Dolphins from Freddie Lane to Dawn Fraser and Jon Sieben … so we know the rich history and I can’t believe I would be mentioned with the likes of Thorpey. I said hi to him when he was commentating for Nine at trials,” she said.

Fresh from a heat training block in Darwin, O’Callaghan will be joined in Singapore by close friend and fellow Olympic champion Kaylee McKeown, who is also aiming to add to her gold medal haul.

“Kaylee is one of my best mates and I love being on team with her,” O’Callaghan said.

“We do different events but we know how to support each other.”

McKeown, who won double backstroke gold at the Paris Olympics and swept the backstroke triple at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, is approaching this meet with a more relaxed mindset.

“I’m not putting any pressure on myself,” McKeown said.

“I’ve had a different preparation to last Worlds in Fukuoka so we’ll just see how I go.”

But her rivals shouldn’t mistake her calm for complacency, with the reigning backstroke Olympic champion making it clear her competitive fire is still burning.

“How do I stay hungry … I love swimming and I love competing. Even at training – every session … I kind of like the pain,” she joked.

Originally published as Mollie O’Callaghan on Ian Thorpe’s record and her friendship with Kaylee McKeown