Mollie O'Callaghan and Kaylee McKeown launched Australia's post-Ariarne Titmus era in style by smashing short course world records at the World Cup meet in Westmont, Illinois. Olympic 200m freestyle champion O'Callaghan swam 1:49.77 for victory in the same event on Saturday, eclipsing the previous mark of 1:50.31 set by Hong Kong's Siobhan Haughey in 2021.

McKeown then held off fierce rival Regan Smith to win the 200 backstroke in 1:57.87 on the final night of the meet on Sunday, erasing the American's previous best of 1:58.04 set at the short course world championships last December. McKeown's win turned the tables on Smith, who had edged the Australian for the 100 backstroke title on Saturday and equalled her own short course world record (54.02) in the process.

While McKeown usually a

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