A day after swimming backstroke for fun, Mollie O'Callaghan now gets serious.
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And she's feeling the pressure.
O'Callaghan enters Wednesday's women's 200m freestyle at Australia's Olympic trials in Brisbane as world-record holder in the event.
The fact puts her on edge.
"(I'm) very, very nervous," O'Callaghan said.
"There's a lot of pressure riding on this event, especially having the world record in it.
"And especially a lot of pressure from myself, I'm my biggest critic.
"Whatever happens, happens. I would really love to make the team on this event and do the best job I can."
On the surface, O'Callaghan missing selection for next month's Paris Olympics in the event at which she is the fastest woman of all time appears absurd.
But such is Australia's depth, the 20-year-old - who on Tuesday night competed in the 100m backstroke final - knows it's not beyond the realm.
The freestyle field includes Ariarne Titmus, the reigning Olympic 200m freestyle champion, as well as the multi-talented Kaylee McKeown.
Renowned sprinters Shayna Jack and Meg Harris will also race, as will Brianna Throssell - who with O'Callaghan, Titmus and Jack set a world record in winning the 4x200m freestyle relay at last year's world championships in Japan.
Kyle Chalmers and Cameron McEvoy headline Wednesday morning's heats in the men's 50m freestyle.
Chalmers is an Olympic 100m free champ, while veteran McEvoy won the shortest sprint at last year's world titles.
After backstroker Mitch Larkin missed his first chance to become the first Australian male swimmer picked for four Olympics, McEvoy now has his opportunity to take that slice of sporting history.
But one emerging swimmer plans to spoil those plans: bullish 20-year-old Isaac Cooper.
"You don't just jump into the 50 freestyle and do well, it's not one of those events that you just sort of appear and then suddenly swim fast," Cooper said.
"I have been training for this for a long time, there's a lot of people out there that have been training for a long time.
"So if anyone's walking into this competition thinking this is going to be handed to them, they have got another thing coming."
Also on Wednesday, Sam Short is favoured to win the men's 800m freestyle while Matt Temple is the frontrunner in the men's 200m butterfly.
Australian Associated Press
