Aussie swimming champion Mollie O’Callaghan dislocates kneecap in bizarre training accident

Australia’s champion freestyler Mollie O’Callaghan has dislocated a kneecap in a training mishap a month before swimming’s world titles in Japan.

O’Callaghan, the reigning 100m freestyle world champion, is still expected to compete in Fukuoka when pool competition starts on July 23.

Ranked world No.1 in the 100m and 200m freestyle this year, O’Callaghan was hurt while doing routine stretches at training last week.

‘Mollie was in the middle of a stretching session and tweaked her kneecap, which popped out,’ Swimming Australia’s head coach Rohan Taylor told Swimming World.

‘But there is no structural damage.

Australia’s young gun freestyler Mollie O’Callaghan (pictured left) has dislocated her kneecap in a training mishap a month before swimming’s world titles in Japan

The 19-year-old is now on a modified training program – but is still tipped to race in Fukuoka come July 23

‘She has undergone some precautionary measures and (coach) Dean (Boxall) has had to modify her training but we expect her to be right to race.’

Taylor said O’Callaghan had returned to training.

‘She is in water and is already building back up to get ready for worlds and is training with modified pull work and not so much kick,’ he said.

‘There is a bit to go but she is relieved, as we all are. And there is a good month to go before the meet.

‘We now just have to manage it. (It’s) something that’s going to take some time and we have to keep moving forward and get her right.

‘Barring any hiccups she will be right to go … the positive thing is she is still able to train and is not out of the water.’

The 19-year-old won the 100m world title last year in Budapest, where she also captured gold in Australia’s triumphant 4x100m freestyle and 4×100 mixed relay teams.

O’Callaghan, who also won Olympic gold in those relays at the Tokyo Games in 2021, claimed five gold medals at last year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.