O'Callaghan closes on more world gold to banish post-Paris blues / Photo: Oli SCARFF - AFP
-
Ed Sheeran set to return to stage after Palestinian controversy
-
Chile's Bachelet quits race to be next UN chief
-
Toulouse edge Vannes, Lyon beat Pau to take Top 14 summit
-
Raphinha treble fires perfect Barca to win at Sevilla
-
Germans arrested for Louvre stunt in Mona Lisa hall
-
Thiam makes winning heptathlon return at Decastar meet
-
Saudi-led coalition says Houthis fired ballistic missile at Riyadh
-
Czechs beat USA to qualify for Davis Cup finals
-
France's debt climbs to highest since 1978: ministry
-
Dortmund sink Stuttgart to climb to Bundesliga summit
-
McIlroy two shots off the lead at Wentworth after eagle on 18
-
Trump says will not tolerate attempts to slow AI growth
-
Martinez brace saves Inter in Serie A top-two clash with Roma
-
'It has to stop': runners protest women's murders in S.Africa district
-
Rosenior abused but guides Paris FC past old club Strasbourg
-
Fire erupts near Riyadh airport as Houthis claim strikes
-
Seven-try Lyon beat Pau, climb to Top 14 summit
-
Cuba works to restore power after another blackout
-
Brighton defeat a 'big lesson' against complacency for Arsenal, says Arteta
-
England thrash Sri Lanka again to return to top of T20 rankings
-
Thousands protest inaction over climate crisis in Switzerland
-
Arsenal thrashed by Brighton, sorry Spurs lose again
-
Carapaz out of cycling world championships
-
South Korea, Austria qualify for Davis Cup finals
-
'Fragile' Tottenham beaten by Aston Villa despite late rally
-
Seare shocks Ingebrigtsen to win world 5km gold
-
Mourinho hails Real Madrid grit before Atletico derby clash
-
Brigitte Bardot widower slams sale of star's belongings
-
Martin wins Austrian MotoGP sprint after Acosta crash
-
Aston Villa compound Tottenham's misery despite late rally
-
Japan edge Fiji to win Pacific Nations Cup
-
Asian Games offer 'deepest apologies' for South Korea anthem blunder
-
Black smoke, flames rising near Riyadh airport: residents to AFP
-
Inter Milan and Italy icon Mazzola dies aged 83
-
UK actor Naomi Watts honoured at Spain film festival
-
Saudi capital issues first air raid alert since renewed fighting in Yemen
-
Japan emperor declares Asian Games open after turbulent build-up
-
Martin edges title rival Marquez for Austrian MotoGP pole
-
Asian Games open with unity message after troubled build-up
-
Indonesia accepts Malaysia's help to tackle wildfires
-
Denmark hails 'binding' Greenland deal with Trump
-
Indians living in Japan on stand-by to house Asian Games athletes
-
We don't want Games host Japan losing money, says Asian Olympic official
-
Trump signs bill authorizing sweeping Russia sanctions
-
Ed Sheeran returns to stage after Palestinian controversy
-
Protesters form human chain at Kennedy Center after Trump threat
-
Asian Games to open in Japan after troubled build-up
-
Death toll from attack at police HQ in Pakistan rises to 31
-
Drone owners rush to offload devices ahead of Beijing ban
-
Trump says Denmark to give US 'permanent control' over Greenland security
O'Callaghan closes on more world gold to banish post-Paris blues
Olympic champion Mollie O'Callaghan safely negotiated her way into the semi-finals of the 200m freestyle at the swimming world championships on Tuesday as she attempts to shake off the post-Paris blues.
The 21-year-old Australian former world record holder, who has spoken candidly about trying to live up to big expectations, was third-fastest in the heats in 1min 57.04sec.
New Zealand's 2024 silver medallist Erika Fairweather was fastest on day three of competition in Singapore in 1:56.54, ahead of Erin Gemmell of the United States (1:56.74).
O'Callaghan, a five-time Olympic gold medallist, is red-hot favourite in the event.
At the Australian trials last month she became emotional when talking about coming down from the high of the Olympics in the French capital a year ago.
"I don't think there's been anything as hard as this, coming here and trying to race and trying to, you know, defend my Olympic status in a way," she said in Adelaide in June.
She declined to talk to reporters following her heat on Tuesday in Singapore, where she had helped Australia win 4x100m freestyle relay gold on Sunday for her ninth world title.
O'Callaghan is also a gold-medal prospect in the 100m freestyle.
O'Callaghan arrived in Paris with her 200m freestyle world record just broken by fellow Australian Ariarne Titmus and under enormous pressure.
She rose to the occasion, edging Titmus to win gold. She was also a key part of Australia's 4×100m freestyle and 4×200m freestyle gold-medal winning teams.
Titmus is on a season-long break and not competing in Singapore.
Also on Tuesday morning, Ireland's Paris Olympics gold medallist and defending world champion Daniel Wiffen reached the final of the men's 800m freestyle eighth-fastest in 7:46.36.
Quickest was Tunisia's Ahmed Jaouadi (7:41.58), with Germany's Lukas Maertens also safely through in 7:45.54.
Maertens is chasing a Singapore double after victory in the 400m free.
China's 2023 triple world breaststroke champion Qin Haiyang, who reclaimed the 100m title on Monday, had plenty left in the tank to qualify for the 50m semi-finals in 26.98sec.
Italy's Simone Cerasuolo was quickest in the heats in 26.42sec.
There are five finals later Tuesday, with world record holder Katie Ledecky the overwhelming favourite in the 1500m freestyle.
The 28-year-old United States great is chasing a career 22nd world crown.
A.Jones--AMWN