- Mollie O’Callaghan paid tribute to her parents after heroic deeds in Paris
- Australian swimmer, 20, won the 200m freestyle final against Ariarne Titmus
- O’Callaghan’s mother Toni revealed her daughter’s laser-like focus
Olympic 200m freestyle champion Mollie O’Callaghan has explained why she burst into tears moments after her mother threw an emotional bombshell at the side of a swimming pool in Paris.
The 20-year-old Australian swimmer O’Callaghan won her first individual medal at the Games in unforgettable fashion, beating teammate Ariarne Titmus in a race for the ages.
In a post-race interview with former Australian swimming talent Giaan Rooney, O’Callaghan paid tribute to her parents Toni and Nick.
“When I saw my father and mother, it really hit me,” she said.
“I swim mainly for them. They put a lot of time and dedication into my swimming, even as a child. Without them I wouldn’t be here.
‘It [victory] still hasn’t sunk in, I still have the 100m [freestyle] to come.’
In a separate interview, Toni O’Callaghan revealed her daughter’s determination to become an Olympic champion in her favourite event.
“I didn’t speak to her for a couple of weeks, I let her do her thing,” she told Channel 9.
Olympic 200m freestyle champion Mollie O’Callaghan has explained why she burst into tears moments after her mother dropped an emotional bombshell poolside in Paris.
Australian swimmer Mollie O’Callaghan (third from right) paid tribute to her parents Toni and Nick (both pictured left)
‘I knew she had it in her, she has learned to control her nerves…we are so happy and proud.’
At the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, O’Callaghan was the youngest athlete on the Australian Olympic team at 17.
Her mother and father were not attending the Games in Japan, but instead watched the action with other swimming parents in Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
It was the first time Mollie’s parents did not travel with the little boy to an international event. They called him ‘stubborn’.
The fact that her parents were cheering her on from the stands in Paris made O’Callaghan’s victory even more special.
Mollie O’Callaghan (right) won her first individual medal of the Games in unforgettable style, beating teammate Ariarne Titmus (left) in a race for the ages in the 200m freestyle final
Silver medallist Titmus was grateful for her defeat, telling Rooney she was ‘so happy for Mollie’ and that her tears were ‘of happiness’.
As the pair accepted their medals, there was a touching moment. O’Callaghan invited Titmus to join her on the podium.
The pair embraced as they stood together in the spotlight as the Australian national anthem was played.
The O’Callaghans also confirmed that they planned to celebrate Mollie’s coronation moment at an Irish pub, as a nod to their surname.