Mollie O'Callaghan stuns Emma McKeon in staggering scenes at Comm Games
Aussie teenager Mollie O'Callaghan has stunned swimming queen Emma McKeon to win gold in the 100m freestyle at the Commonwealth Games.
O'Callaghan was fourth at the turn on Tuesday night in Birmingham, but stormed home to triumph ahead of Shayna Jack and McKeon.
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The 18-year-old O'Callaghan, who also won gold in the event at the world championships, was 0.40 seconds behind at the midpoint - but won in 52.63 seconds.
Jack (52.88) and McKeon (52.94) completed an Australian clean sweep, with McKeon settling for bronze despite winning gold in the event at the Tokyo Olympics last year.
It was a sensational Aussie clean sweep in the women's 100m freestyle led by Mollie O'Callaghan while 18-year-old Elizabeth Dekkers won the 200m butterfly overnight at the Commonwealth Games. #B2022 pic.twitter.com/mFrDq9U0Os
— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) August 2, 2022
The third-place finish helped take McKeon's career medal tally at the Commonwealth Games to 19, including 13 gold - the most gold medals by any athlete in Comm Games history.
"I can't believe it, I'm really happy. And I'm happy to do it with these amazing girls. Especially Emma. She is an absolute idol," O'Callaghan said after the race.
"It is really nice to race alongside her at this time.
"And especially Shayna Jack too, coming back from stuff, so I'm very happy."
Jack's silver medal capped off a remarkable return to the international stage after her two-year ban for doping.
The Queenslander was originally suspended for four years, but had the ban reduced on appeal after successfully arguing she didn't knowingly ingest a banned substance.
McKeon later helped Australia win gold in the 4x100m mixed medley relay final to win the 19th medal of her Commonwealth Games career, breaking the record for most by any athlete ever.
"It is incredible. We get to push each other, year in and year out. And it ups the standard every time," McKeon said.
"You forged the pathway for us to do that, so we're pretty lucky.
"After last year, I needed to keep pushing. And I know all over the world there will be young ones coming through and I have these two back home to race all the time.
"I'm still hungry as ever … I'm just so stoked to be here and be in the 100m with those girls."
A phenomenal race in the women’s 100 free final, with Mollie O’Callaghan finishing just ahead of Shayna Jack & Emma McKeon. @9NewsAUS
— Edward Godfrey (@EdwardGodfrey9) August 2, 2022
The Aussie Women just swept the podium at the Commonwealth Games in the 100 freestyle with the following...
🥇 🇦🇺 Mollie O'Callaghan - 52.63
🥈 🇦🇺 Shayna Jack - 52.88
🥉 🇦🇺 Emma McKeon - 52.94
They're good at freestyle. REALLY good at freestyle 🥶— Kyle Sockwell (@kylesockwell) August 2, 2022
A wildly deep set of freestylers over there right now, fun to watch.
— Kyle Sockwell (@kylesockwell) August 2, 2022
Could see Mollie O’Callaghan winning that from a mile away, back end 100 free phenoms are the best #Birmingham2022 #B2022 https://t.co/yxLQFavktr
— James T-Wakefield (@JamesToffoliW) August 2, 2022
Mollie O'Callaghan what a swimmer! Aussie clean sweep of the medals in the women's 100m free 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
— .\nthony Vescio (@vesh88) August 2, 2022
Another Aus freestyle clean sweep but perhaps not the order we expected - Mollie O’Callaghan wins Shayna Jack silver and Emma McKeon bronze. Anna Hopkin and Freya Anderson 4th and 5th - 53.57 decent for Anna.
— pullbuoy (@pullbuoy) August 2, 2022
Elizabeth Dekkers joins Aussie gold rush
Elizabeth Dekkers earlier captured gold in the women's 200m butterfly to add her name to the list of Aussie champions in Birmingham.
The 18-year-old was shocked to join the Dolphins' golden list.
"It's a bit of an unreal feeling," she said.
"I never expected it ... it feels amazing, so good to execute that race just when I needed to."
Dekkers produced a last-lap surge to power past England's Laura Stephens - the Australian sitting 0.01 seconds behind at the final turn but winning by 0.64 seconds.
Stephens claimed the silver medal and Australia's Brianna Throssell took the bronze, with fellow Aussie Abbey Connor finishing fourth.
The Australian swim team's medal collection also has two fresh silver additions from Brad Woodward and Matt Temple.
Woodward, in the men's 200m backstroke, was pipped by just one-hundredth of a second by England's Brodie Williams.
Fellow Australians Mitch Larkin (fourth) and Joshua Edwards-Smith (seventh) finished outside of the medals.
In the men's 100m butterfly final, Temple finished in a dead-heat for second with England's Guy Temple.
Canadian Joshua Liendo Edwards won gold and Australia's former pop star Cody Simpson placed fifth.
And in the women's 200m breaststroke final, Australia's Chelsea Hodges picked up a bronze, finishing behind South African duo Lara van Niekerk and Tatjana Shoenmaker.
with AAP
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