2026 Commonwealth Games
Mollie O’Callaghan did not turn up for her heat in the women’s 50 back this morning, leaving lane 4 empty in the penultimate heat.
She was the second-fastest seed in a time of 27.19, which she clocked at Australian Trials where she finished second to Kaylee McKeown‘s 27.13. Of note, McKeown has withdrawn from all competition this summer to recover from mononucleosis.
O’Callaghan’s scratch this morning is likely made with one eye on the 100 free final tonight. She is the defending champion in that event after winning in a time of 52.63 four years ago. She is the fastest seed for the final this evening after touching in 53.29 in the semi-finals last night.
She has the fastest lifetime best (52.08) and season best (52.33) of anyone in the final, and already has a gold medal at this meet from the 200 free. She won that event on Saturday in a time of 1:54.66, nearly two seconds slower than the 1:52.86 she posted at Australian Trials.
O’Callaghan had announced that she was suffering from a back injury through those Trials, which had previously led to her being advised not to race for the rest of the season. The outlook has improved since then, allowing her to race this week and at the Pan Pacific Championships in two week’s time.
However, she has not looked in the same form as she has in previous years, or even that she was in earlier this season. She split 52.81 on the women’s 4×100 free relay on day 1, but was left off the mixed 4×100 free relay team on day 2 to avoid a double with the 200 free final.
As it stands, she figures to have two events this evening with the 100 free final and the women’s 4×200 free relay. With Australia likely to dominate that relay after claiming three of the top five spots in the women’s 200 free final, we could see her left off if she is managing her injury.
O’Callaghan won silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the 50 back, touching in 27.47 behind Canadian Kylie Masse‘s Commonwealth Games record of 27.31. Masse was the fastest qualifier this morning in 27.79, the only woman under 28 seconds.