See why Mollie O’Callaghan broke down in uncontrollable tears after her mum dropped an emotional bombshell after star’s gold medal win

Olympic 200m freestyle gold medallist Mollie O’Callaghan has explained why she broke down in uncontrollable tears not long after her mum dropped an emotional bombshell poolside in Paris.

Aussie swim star O’Callaghan, 20, won her first individual Games medal in unforgettable fashion, edging out teammate Ariarne Titmus in a race for the ages.

Speaking in an interview post race with former Australian swimming star Giaan Rooney, O’Callaghan paid tribute to her parents Toni and Nick.

‘Seeing my mum and dad, it kinda hit me a little bit,’ she said.

‘I swim mainly for them, they’ve put a lot of time and dedication into my swimming and as a child, so I wouldn’t be here without them.

‘It [victory] still hasn’t sunk in, I still have the 100m [freestyle] to come.’

In a separate interview, Toni O’Callaghan revealed her daughter’s determination to be an Olympic champion in her pet event.

‘I haven’t spoken to her for a few weeks, I let her do her thing,’ she told Channel 9.

Aussie swim star Mollie O’Callaghan (third from right) paid tribute to her parents Toni and Nick (both pictured left)

‘I knew she had it in her, she has learnt to hold her nerve….we are so happy and proud.’

At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, O’Callaghan was the youngest athlete on the Australian Olympic team at 17.

Her mum and dad didn’t attend the Games in Japan, instead watching the action with other swimming parents at Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

It was the first time Mollie’s parents had not travelled to an international event with the youngster, who they labelled ‘headstrong.’

So having her folks cheering on in the Paris stands made O’Callaghan’s triumph even more special. 

Mollie O’Callaghan (right) won her first individual Games medal in unforgettable fashion, edging out teammate Ariarne Titmus (left)  in a race for the ages in the 200m freestyle final

Gracious in defeat, silver medallist Titmus told Rooney she was ‘so happy for Mollie’ and her tears were ‘happy ones.’

In a touching moment as the pair received their medals, O’Callaghan invited Titmus onto the top of the dais with her.

The pair embraced as they shared the limelight while the Australian national anthem played.

The O’Callaghan’s also confirmed they planned to celebrate Mollie’s crowning moment in an Irish pub, in a nod to their surname.