The Thrilling Rivalry of Mollie O’Callaghan and Ariarne Titmus

For the past couple of years, Mollie O'Callaghan has been on fire in the swimming world. She’s taken home gold medals in the 100m and 200m freestyle at both the Commonwealth Games and the world championships. Last year, she even broke the long-standing 200m freestyle world record set by Federica Pellegrini, a record that had been around for 14 years!

However, things took a turn last month at the Olympic trials in Australia when O’Callaghan found herself finishing second to her teammate, Ariarne Titmus, in the 200m freestyle, despite O’Callaghan breaking her own world record. This emotional moment left her in tears, especially knowing that it was her own coach, Dean Boxall, who guided Titmus to that victory.

Boxall, known for his wild celebrations, especially during Titmus’ stunning victory at the Tokyo Olympics, is now in a unique situation. He’s coaching two of the best swimmers in the world, both vying for the same gold medal. Before races, he meets with each swimmer individually to map out their plans and how they can beat each other.

This rivalry adds a layer of excitement, as fans are hopeful for an Australian gold and silver finish, a feat not seen since Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett in 2004. O’Callaghan shared, “We actually have different race plans. Dean wants us both to win, no matter what.”

Both swimmers have their strengths, and Boxall has tailored his coaching to fit each athlete. While they are fierce competitors, they maintain a civil relationship and don’t socialize outside the pool, focusing on their goals instead.

Although O’Callaghan is recognized as a top contender in the 100m and 200m freestyles, she admits to feeling anxious before races. “You walk out, and it’s quite daunting,” she said. “But once I dive in, it’s pretty much gone, and I just go into autopilot.”

Cate Campbell, a seasoned Olympian, believes in O’Callaghan’s ability to handle the pressure of the Games, stating, “You can see that she is nervous but has this tenacity and grit to get through.”

As the swimming competition continues at the Paris Olympics, all eyes are on O’Callaghan and Titmus as they prepare for another showdown. Their upcoming races promise to be among the most thrilling moments of the Games.