World Aquatics Championships 2023: Australia break world record defending mixed 4x100m freestyle relay title
Australia successfully defended their mixed 4x100m freestyle title, smashing their own world record at Fukuoka 2023
Swimming
Australia completed a golden day in the pool by winning the mixed 4x100m freestyle gold medal in a world-record time at the World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan, on Saturday (29 July).
The quartet of Jack Cartwright, Kyle Chalmers, Shayna Jack, and Mollie O’Callaghan blasted home in a time of 3:18.83, slicing half a second off the previous world-record mark they had set at last year’s world championships in Budapest.
The Australians were in fine fettle in the last event of the penultimate evening in Japan, by winning their 13th gold medal at Fukuoka - tying the record for most gold medals at the same championships. The feat is a repeat of 2001 (Fukuoka) and 2005 (Quebec), and they'll have a chance to add more on Sunday.
O’Callaghan swam the final leg of the 4x100m final, leading her team to victory, touching nearly two seconds ahead of the second-placed United States. The gold was O’Callaghan’s fifth of the championships and her fourth world record in Fukuoka. The 19-year-old O’Callaghan broke the 200m freestyle global mark - the oldest women’s record set in 2009 - earlier in the championships.
The United States, who led the race over the first lap and a half, had to settle for second place in 3:20.82, with Great Britain bagging bronze in 3:21.68.
The Australians had to claw their way into the winning position, with Chalmers swimming the second leg, giving their team a slight edge before handing over to Jack. Jack extended their lead before O’Callaghan turned a knife with a blistering second 50-metre swim.
“It is amazing and to break the record again with these guys. Last year I was with Jack and Kyle, and Madi Wilson. To do it again is just amazing and phenomenal,” O’Callaghan said.
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Australia was leading the medal table with their 13 gold, five silvers, and two bronzes with one day of action left in the pool.
Olympic gold medallist Chalmers said it was an inspiring experience to lead the medals tally and potentially bow out of the championships as the most successful Australian swimming team.
“We have so much amazing talent on the team like these young girls like Mollie, Kaylee (McKeown) and Ariarne (Titmus) even Sam Short on the boys' side. There are these guys that are just incredible in finding ways to win,” Chalmers said.
"Early on in my career, it was quite rare for us at times to get a gold medal. To now have such a massive amount and so many individuals are incredible and exciting.”