Mollie O’Callaghan, Lani Pallister Will Sustain Australian Freestyle Excellence in Post-Titmus Era
What Ariarne Titmus accomplished for Australia between her international debut in 2017 and her final meet at the Paris Olympics, cannot be understated. The legacy goes far beyond the eight Olympic medals and nine World Championship medals, four gold in each category, and the world records in the 200 and 400 freestyle.
Before Titmus won 400 free gold and 800 free silver at two consecutive Olympic Games in Tokyo and Paris, the country had not reached the podium in either event since 1992. Australia had never won a world title in the 800 free relay until Titmus fueled wins in 2019 and 2023. And in Paris, she became the first Australian woman in 60 years to successfully defend an Olympic gold medal in swimming.
But even with Titmus announcing her unexpected retirement earlier this month, Australia remains in position for a prolific future in the women’s freestyle events. The world saw evidence for that at this summer’s World Championships, where Australia earned four gold medals in women’s freestyle events, and more over the past three weeks on the World Cup circuit.
Mollie O’Callaghan — Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Now, Mollie O’Callaghan takes over as standard-bearer, even if she specializes in shorter events than Titmus, her longtime training partner under coach Dean Boxall at St. Peters Western. O’Callaghan is a four-time individual world champion, having secured titles in the 100 free in 2022 and 2023 and in the 200 free in 2023 and 2025. She has won international gold in the 200 free for three consecutive years, scoring upset wins over Titmus on the first two occasions.
The world titles Australia won in both women’s freestyle relays at this summer’s World Championships? Credit O’Callaghan, who built the lead on the opening leg of the 400 free relay before a come-from-behind anchor leg in the longer event. And more recently, O’Callaghan was brilliant during the World Cup circuit, finishing with a pair of stunning world records in the 200 free. In Westmont, O’Callaghan wiped a half-second from the previous mark while becoming the first woman ever under 1:50, and she took the mark even lower six days later in Toronto.
Lani Pallister, a more recent addition to Boxall’s group, had the best meet of her career at Worlds, pushing Katie Ledecky to the limit in the 800 free before earning silver. Pallister also won 1500-meter bronze and took fourth in the fastest 400 free final in history while joining O’Callaghan on that world-title-winning 800 free relay.
In three World Cup meets, Pallister was incredible in the middle-distance and distance races, going six-for-six in victories. At the last stop in Toronto, Pallister became the third-fastest woman ever in the 400 free. Two days later, she stunned the entire swimming community with a world record in the 800 free. She blasted Ledecky’s previous mark by three-and-a-half seconds while beating her own best time by almost eight.
Lani Pallister — Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
“Katie’s done so many incredible things for the sport,” Pallister said after the world record. “I have her autograph sitting at home from 2014 and for a period of time it was my screensaver and it said ‘dream big”. So it’s really special that now I’m in my career and I’m racing her. And, honestly, just sharing the pool with her in this era of distance, swimming’s absolutely incredible. And to be someone that’s in a conversation with her and challenging those times is really, really incredible.”
The third key Australian freestyler moving forward is Meg Harris, who won her first individual world title in the 50 free this year. Harris has been entrenched on the 400 free relay squad for years, going back to her position alongside legends Emma McKeon, Cate Campbell and Bronte Campbell in the finals relay at the Paris Olympics.
With the World Cup meets happening around the same time as Titmus announced she was moving on, O’Callaghan and Pallister were both asked for their takes on the stunning development. As both swimmers expressed their admiration for what Titmus accomplished, they added their belief that Titmus and her accomplishments have provided a permanent boost for their country. Titmus has undoubtedly provided motivation for generations of Australian freestylers, including current stars like O’Callaghan and Pallister as well as those still coming through the ranks.
“She’s played a huge role in Australian swimming. She has evolved it,” O’Callaghan said. “She is the cornerstone of the women’s 200, 400 and even 800 freestyle events. To have her gone, it’s a big missing part of the swim team. She has shown her capabilities: if you put your mind to it, you can do it. I think she has inspired so many young Australian women to compete at a high standard and push distance swimming too.”
Pallister added, “It’s nice she’s made a decision that’s best for her. She seems really happy at the moment, which I think is the nicest thing. She’s done so much as an athlete, so much for swimming, international swimming and setting the standard for middle distance swimming internationally. I have a lot to thank her for, for making me a better athlete.”
The Australian team will undoubtedly have challenges maintaining their sterling medal record in freestyle without Titmus on the team. Ledecky and Summer McIntosh are all-timers in the 400 and 800 while the American women made huge strides in the relay events this year. O’Callaghan and Pallister will have to raise their game while bringing younger swimmers along to maintain Aussie dominance in the 800 free relay. But Titmus showed what was possible, and Australia will remember.
