Mollie O'Callaghan has crushed the women's short course 200m world record with a phenomenal 1:49.77 at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup second leg in Westmond, Illinois.

The 21-year-old became the first woman to swim under 1:50 for the 200m freestyle, beating compatriot Lani Pallister — who set a new personal best time — into the silver medal spot by 2.29 seconds.

The previous record stood at 1:50.31, set by Hong Kong’s Siobhán Haughey in 2021.

For O'Callaghan and Australian swimming, it may well be a case of the queen is dead, long live the queen, following the shock retirement of long-course world record holder Ariarne Titmus on Thursday .

Titmus, who claimed the record in a 50m pool from O'Callaghan at the 2024 Olympic trials in Brisbane , said she no longer had the fire f

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