Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan edged closer to a freestyle sprint double at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships with the top qualifying time in the women’s 100 freestyle swimming on Wednesday, 31 July.
The Australian, who won the 100 and 200 freestyle titles at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, looked fresh and dialled in as she entered Singapore’s packed-out World Championships Arena, despite her heroic efforts in last night’s victory in the 200 free.
The Queenslander took an early lead in the ninth and final heat, before easing home on the final leg to clock 53.40 and progress in top spot. After a quick wave to the applauding crowd, she departed to recover ahead of this evening’s semi-finals.
Team USA’s Gretchen Walsh, who won the 100 butterfly on Monday, was a late withdrawal for an unknown reason.
Next up in the men’s 200 backstroke, Paris 2024 Olympic champion Hubert Kos of Hungary progressed to this evening’s semis in the ninth-quickest time of 1:56.71.
South Africa’s recently-crowned 100 backstroke world champion Pieter Coetze scraped through in the final qualification place, edging out 100 backstroke Olympic champion Thomas Ceccon.
Team USA’s best performance of the morning came from Kate Douglass, with the reigning Olympic champion securing the second-quickest qualification time in the women’s 200 breaststroke in 2:23.28 to take her place in this evening’s semis alongside teammate Alex Walsh.