Australia’s swimming team faced an unexpected setback at the World Championships in Singapore, failing to qualify for the final of the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay. This disappointment came after a strategic decision was made to rest former world champions Mollie O’Callaghan and Kyle Chalmers, opting not to include them in the heat race. The team that did compete, comprising Kai Taylor, Max Giuliani, Hannah Casey, and Milla Jansen, finished uncharacteristically low, ranking 11th with a time of 3:25.15 minutes.
This outcome is particularly surprising given Australia’s recent success in this event, having secured gold and set world records at both the 2022 and 2023 championships. The current world record still stands at 3:18.83, held by Australia. Coaches Rohan Taylor and Shaun Curtis were visibly shocked by the results as the mixed relay final line-up was announced, which saw Canada sneak into the final with the lowest qualifying time of 3:24.94 minutes. The fastest heats were dominated by the United States, France, and the Netherlands, with times of 3:21.48 minutes, 3:24.21 minutes, and 3:24.31 minutes, respectively.
O’Callaghan, who is aiming for a milestone 11th long-course world championship gold, will now have to wait until the final day of the championships to vie for her next opportunity, as the heats for the women’s 4x100m medley relay are also scheduled for Sunday. Overall, the Australian team’s failure to compete in the final marks a notable departure from their recent success, leaving fans and athletes alike in disbelief.