2022 FINA SHORT COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Tuesday, December 13 to Sunday, December 18, 2022
- Melbourne Sports and Aquatics Centre, Melbourne, Australia
- SCM (25m)
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Mollie O’Callaghan put her incredible versatility on display once again during Friday night finals in Melbourne, lowering the Oceanian and Australian Record in the women’s 50 backstroke for the second time in as many swims en route to winning the bronze medal.
The 18-year-old finished in a time of 25.61 to finish third in a blistering race that saw Canadian Maggie MacNeil (25.25) break the world record and American Claire Curzan (25.54) move to #2 all-time.
O’Callaghan, the reigning long course world champion in the women’s 100 freestyle, knocked eight one-hundredths off the Oceanian and Australian Record she set in the semis (25.69), which had lowered the previous mark of 25.81 set by Minna Atherton in 2019.
O’Callaghan now ranks fourth all-time in the event.
All-Time Performers, Women’s 50 Backstroke (SCM)
- Maggie MacNeil (CAN) – 25.25 (2022)
- Claire Curzan (USA) – 25.54 (2022)
- Kira Toussaint (NED) – 25.60 (2020)
- Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS) – 25.61 (2022)
- Kylie Masse (CAN) – 25.62 (2021)
Known primarily for her freestyle abilities, O’Callaghan has put backstroke at the forefront this week, and the results are showing she’s world-class.
In the 100 back final on Wednesday, O’Callaghan won silver to fellow Australian Kaylee McKeown in a time of 55.62, moving her up into 13th all-time in the event.
The 50 back bronze was O’Callaghan’s fifth of the competition, having added relay golds in the women’s 4×100 and 4×200 free, plus a silver medal in the 4×50 free to go along with the 100 back.
Ik she was a backstroker before doing freestyle, but where’d the speed come from? I figured she would be good at the 1/2 backs but not the 50.
She is a fantastic underwater kicker and the 50 back short course crowns the “best underwater kicker in the world,” as mentioned by Hurley during the commentary.