Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack miss out on medals in 100m freestyle at Paris Olympics

In the biggest shock in swimming so far at the Paris Olympics, Mollie O’Callaghan and Shayna Jack both missed out on winning medals in the women’s 100 metres freestyle final.

Australia's Mollie O'Callaghan (right) finished fourth in 100m freestyle at the Paris Olympics. Picture: AFP

Spoiled by success, if Australians ever needed a reminder of how difficult it is to win Olympic medals — this was the most brutal way.

In the biggest shock in swimming so far at the Paris Olympics, Mollie O’Callaghan and Shayna Jack both missed out on winning medals in the women’s 100 metres freestyle final.

They were up against a red-hot field and slightly off their best but it was still a shock that neither made the podium, even though they were close.

Already a two-time gold medallist in the French capital, O’Callaghan finished fourth — missing the podium by 0.01 seconds while Jack finished fifth.

“I knew it was gonna be a tough race from the start. We’re all very close,” O’Callghan said.

“It’s one of those races. It’s by 0.01, literally everything counts. If you stuff something up it really costs you.

“To be honest, I’m happy with it. It’s not not a great time for me. I expected a lot more but at the end of the day you just have to suck it up and wait another four years.”

Mollie O’Callaghan finished fourth in the 100m freestyle — missing the podium by 0.01 seconds. Picture: Michael Klein

The gold medal went to Swedish world record holder Sarah Sjostrom in 52.16 with American Torri Huske getting the silver in 52.29 and Siobhan Haughey of Hong Kong the bronze in 52.33.

Seventh at the turn, O’Callaghan swam the second lap faster than anyone else in the race but couldn’t make up the deficit as she steamed into the wall at 52.34.

“I was really nervous heading into this. I haven’t had a lot of sleep over the past few days,” O’Callaghan said.

“I tried really hard to manage myself and get up for this. I knew that the 100m freestyle was gonna be hard because it’s a lot of that speed and that’s something I really so I’ve tried really hard over this whole block to really get to this point.”

Jack, who teamed up with O’Callaghan to win gold in the 4x100m relay in freestyle and will partner her again in the upcoming 4x200m, was emotional as she recounted the rollercoaster she has been on over the past five years.

“To be honest, I came into this with a positive mindset and I’m coming out quite emotional because of what I just achieved,” Jack said.

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“I know how proud I am of myself and representing my country and doing it proud.

“I think that people definitely look at the outcomes and always focus so far and that they forget to enjoy the moment and so for me, I really wanted to walk out and enjoy it.”

Jack missed the last Olympics after serving a two-year doping ban for an offence she maintains she was innocent of and said everything for her was a bonus.

“I try to absorb the fact that I’m here as an Olympian.,” she said.

“A couple years ago, I never thought that would even be possible. So to be here, standing up there for my country and knowing everybody back home and supporting us and just wanting us to do it proud.”