By Tom Decent
Fukuoka: When Mollie O’Callaghan broke her first individual world record on Wednesday night, in the women’s 200m freestyle at the world swimming championships, the rising Australian star gave a brief insight into the clandestine nature of her coach Dean Boxall.
“Dean is an amazing coach. He trains me for this. I can’t share any of his secrets,” O’Callaghan said.
Boxall is putting forward a strong case to be regarded as one of the world’s best swimming coaches, if he wasn’t already in that conversation.
On the opening night of competition, he helped Ariarne Titmus smash Summer McIntosh’s world record in the women’s 400m freestyle in one of the greatest performances by an Australian swimmer on the world stage.
Three nights later, a unique situation played out. Boxall gave Titmus and O’Callaghan separate race plans to beat each other for the same world championship gold medal in the 200m freestyle.
The pair, who train side-by-side at St Peters Western in Brisbane under Boxall’s guidance, became the first Australian duo in 50 years of world championships to finish first and second in women’s 200m freestyle.
Mollie O’Callaghan (gold) and Ariarne Titmus (silver) after the women’s 200m freestyle final at the world championships. Credit: Getty
It is extremely rare for the same coach to look after the top two swimmers in the world, competing against one another in the same event.
There have been 10 Australian quinellas in world championship history – the last was Emily Seebohm and Madi Wilson in the 100m backstroke in 2015 – but none have trained in the same program.
The Campbell sisters, Cate and Bronte, were both coached by Simon Cusack but never went 1-2 in the same race at the world championships.
“I would find it tricky giving race plans that are balanced and fair but Dean does it really well,” said Australian head coach Rohan Taylor. “He treats all of them individually and gives them the same amount of attention and support. It would be tricky.”
Dean Boxall (centre) with his swimmers from St Peters Western. Credit: Instagram
Boxall became a viral sensation after his wild celebration while watching Titmus execute the perfect race in the women’s 400m freestyle final at the Tokyo Olympics.
Despite being the most recognisable swimming coach in the country, Boxall is reluctant to do interviews and doesn’t intend to speak until after these world championships finish.
His swimmers all know not to accidentally give too much away to the media. Whatever he’s doing, it’s working.
Remarkably, Boxall coaches 10 of the 31 swimmers in this Dolphins team in Japan. Michael Bohl has the next highest tally, with five swimmers on his books.
Dean Boxall hugs Mollie O’Callaghan and Ariarne Titmus after their 200m freestyle final in Fukuoka. Credit: Getty
Along with Titmus and O’Callaghan, Boxall looks after Jack Cartwright, Kai Taylor, Elijah Winnington, Jenna Forrester, Abbey Harkin, Shayna Jack, Kiah Melverton and Brianna Throssell.
In September 2021, Boxall finally got a moment to slow down and reflect on the Tokyo Olympics. He agreed to a podcast with Olympian and fellow coach Brett Hawke.
The pair covered a lot of ground, mostly discussing the secret plan to help Titmus conquer Katie Ledecky in an epic 400m freestyle final. The conversation then turned to O’Callaghan, who went to the Tokyo Olympics as a 17-year-old relay swimmer.
“Titmus better be careful. People around the world better be careful on Mollie because she is dogged,” Boxall said on the podcast. “Her mother is tough and her father is dogged.
“I joke with her that Mollie has five voodoo dolls of me and she goes home at night and stabs them. I’m going at her. I’m a bit like a tiger with her. She gets in and she’s dogged. She’s good to coach.”
Then, down the barrel of the camera, on Zoom, Boxall delivered Titmus a warning message. “Well ‘Arnie’, if you don’t know it, know it now,” Boxall said. “Mollie, believe mate, because you were remarkable at Tokyo. You have got it in ya.”
They were prescient comments as O’Callaghan mowed down Titmus, the reigning Olympic champion, in the four-lap event.
“It’s a testament to Dean. That is a mastery of coaching to be able to do that,” said Australia’s Zac Stubblety-Cook, the world record holder in the 200m breaststroke.
“To have two world records in two different events at the same meet, and then two swimmers with gold and silver in the event, swimming very differently, was very cool to watch. It’s an interesting one. Having Mollie and Arnie leading the pack of the women’s 200 [freestyle] in Australia is exciting.”
Speaking on the podcast, Boxall was asked about the challenges of coaching two supremely talented athletes who go head-to-head with each other.
“Not that there has been any complications, yet, but you don’t get them to go against each other all the time,” Boxall said. “You make sure you pick your fights and provide them with the opportunity to recover and be competitive. Mollie knows Arnie is the benchmark and Arnie knows Mollie is hunting.”
Not anymore. Their 200m freestyle race at the Paris Olympics will be fascinating.
If one wins, don’t bank on another overzealous Boxall celebration. He’ll be more subdued because he’s got more than one warrior in the fight now.
Watch the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka live on Channel Nine & 9Now.
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