Mollie O’Callaghan had a dream run at the Paris Olympics.
But her incredible winning streak left the Australian swimmer suffering from panic attacks.
The 20-year-old walked away five medals – beating teammate Ariarne Titmus in the women’s 200m freestyle for the gold, as well as gold in the 100m and 200m freestyle races, silver in the 100m medley and bronze in the 100m mixed medley.
Despite being one of Australia’s most decorated Olympians, Mollie tells this week’s issue of Stellar Magazine that she had moments where she suffered a crisis of faith.
‘The night before the 200m freestyle at trials was the most nervous I have ever been. I had a bit of an anxiety attack. I couldn’t breathe’ she said.
‘I felt like there was so much pressure and expectation to perform, especially being a world-record holder.
‘In the back of my mind I know, no matter what, everyone will be proud of me. But there are moments where it becomes a little too much’.
Mollie admits she is an over-thinker and has to psych herself into resisting her negative thoughts.
Mollie O’Callaghan (pictured in Stellar) had a dream run at the Paris Olympics. But her incredible winning streak left the Australian swimmer suffering from panic attacks
‘I overthink things, and it’s hard to try and switch off. But I really love swimming; I do it because I really love it’ she said.
‘And I’ve just got to think about the positive things and use the tactics that my psychologist helps with. All those little things kind of help me get to that point’.
The golden girl earlier gave an emotional interview following her success at the Paris Olympics, revealing her disappointment with some of her results.
Australia’s swim team bagged seven gold, eight silver and three bronze in the Paris pool.
The nation’s swim team won 21 medals overall in Tokyo, 20 at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and also 18 at the Sydney 2000 Games.
O’Callaghan was the nation’s most successful swimmer in Paris
Still, Mollie felt like she had let the country down and fought back tears when asked if she felt proud of her performance in Paris.
‘Part of me yes, and part of me no,’ she told News Corp.
‘It’s all good but I think it’s a hard one because there’s so many good things, and then there’s so many s**t things.
‘At the end of the day, you’ve just got to be positive because many people don’t have the opportunity to stand on the podium.’
O’Callaghan was the nation’s most successful swimmer in Paris, winning three golds, a silver and a bronze.
Read more in this week’s issue of Stellar Magazine
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