World Aquatics Championships: Mollie O’Callaghan wins 11th gold in 4x200m freestyle relay

Ian Thorpe has predicted golden girl Mollie O’Callaghan will far surpass his haul off 11 World Championship golds after she spearheaded Australia’s 4x200m success in Singapore.

Move over Ian Thorpe, Mollie O’Callaghan now stands shoulder to shoulder as Australia’s most successful swimmer at the world titles.

The Queensland 21-year-old has done what nobody ever thought possible and moved equal with Thorpe as Australia’s greatest swimmer at the world titles by winning her 11th gold medal in Singapore on Thursday night.

In a brave anchor leg where she held off the greatest women’s swimmer of all-time Katie Ledecky, O’Callaghan led Australia’s 4x200m freestyle relay team to a comprehensive gold medal despite having champion Ariarne Titmus sitting in the commentary booth after taking the year off racing.

Mollie O’Callaghan won her 11th World Championships gold.

The new Australian team of Lani Pallister, Jamie Perkins, Brittany Castelluzzo and O’Callaghan won the gold in 7:39.35, ahead of USA in 7:40.01 and China (7:42.99) in third.

Pallister gave Australia a narrow lead off the first leg before the US team accelerated through the middle sector and with 250m of the race to go it looked like they would hand Ledecky a decent buffer.

But rookie Castelluzzo produced a lap of the gods to not only haul in the deficit but hand O’Callaghan a narrow lead for the anchor leg.

Having done the 100m freestyle semi-finals 90 minutes earlier O’Callaghan held on to secure the gold medal despite her legs screaming in pain after a night of racing.

Katie Ledecky and Mollie O'Callaghan wait for their turn. Picture: AFP

“It was pretty rough backing it up after the 100 free… You can’t really take it easy in the 100 free,” O’Callaghan said.

“I do it for the team, for the country. I know these girls put their whole work into this.

“It’s a dream to be part of this team and I did it for these girls.”

O’Callaghan’s career tally of 11 gold and 4 silver medals now sits her level with the incredible Thorpe who retired with 11 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal.

Brittany Castelluzzo produced a crucial swim for the victorious Aussies.

She will take to the blocks again on Friday night where she aims to defend her 100m freestyle crown, having won the 200m title earlier in the meet.

O’Callaghan was second fastest qualifier into the final behind Dutch sprint Marrit Steenbergen, just 0.01s behind and appearing to ease up into the wall.

Thorpe believes it is only a matter of time until O’Callaghan moves beyond his 11 gold record with her career still only in its infancy.

“I think she will go far beyond 11,” Thorpe said on Nine Network.

“Thinking of the next cycle there is an opportunity not just for multiple world championships but multiple Olympics.”

Lani Pallister, Jamie Perkins, Mollie O'Callaghan and Brittany Castelluzzo celebrate on the podium. Picture: AFP

Lani Pallister, Jamie Perkins, Mollie O'Callaghan and Brittany Castelluzzo show off their gold medals. Picture:

Rookie Castelluzzo said winning the gold medal was the stuff of dreams.

“These girls are all my role models. Australia is pretty good in relays as well, and I’ve worked to be on this team for so many years… to be part of it is so inspiring,” she said.

The gold medal further endorses the decision by Pallister to relocate from the Gold Coast to Brisbane to train alongside O’Callaghan under Dean Boxall.

“Having Dean let me do the lead-off was wicked,” she said.

“I knew it would be pretty hot, but all of us have a thing for relays.

“It’s Jamie’s first world championships gold medal as well, it’s really special to be here with the girls and just doing it for our country.”

Originally published as World Aquatics Championships: Mollie O’Callaghan wins 11th gold in 4x200m freestyle relay