O'Callaghan closes on more world gold to banish post-Paris blues
The 21-year-old Australian former world record holder, who has spoken candidly about trying to live up to big expectations, was third-fastest in the heats in 1min 57.04sec.
New Zealand's 2024 silver medallist Erika Fairweather was fastest on day three of competition in Singapore in 1:56.54, ahead of Erin Gemmell of the United States (1:56.74).
O'Callaghan, a five-time Olympic gold medallist, is red-hot favourite in the event.
At the Australian trials last month she became emotional when talking about coming down from the high of the Olympics in the French capital a year ago.
"I don't think there's been anything as hard as this, coming here and trying to race and trying to, you know, defend my Olympic status in a way," she said in Adelaide in June.
She declined to talk to reporters following her heat on Tuesday in Singapore, where she had helped Australia win 4x100m freestyle relay gold on Sunday for her ninth world title.
O'Callaghan is also a gold-medal prospect in the 100m freestyle.
O'Callaghan arrived in Paris with her 200m freestyle world record just broken by fellow Australian Ariarne Titmus and under enormous pressure.
She rose to the occasion, edging Titmus to win gold. She was also a key part of Australia's 4×100m freestyle and 4×200m freestyle gold-medal winning teams.
Titmus is on a season-long break and not competing in Singapore.
Also on Tuesday morning, Ireland's Paris Olympics gold medallist and defending world champion Daniel Wiffen reached the final of the men's 800m freestyle eighth-fastest in 7:46.36.
Quickest was Tunisia's Ahmed Jaouadi (7:41.58), with Germany's Lukas Maertens also safely through in 7:45.54.
Maertens is chasing a Singapore double after victory in the 400m free.
China's 2023 triple world breaststroke champion Qin Haiyang, who reclaimed the 100m title on Monday, had plenty left in the tank to qualify for the 50m semi-finals in 26.98sec.
Italy's Simone Cerasuolo was quickest in the heats in 26.42sec.
There are five finals later Tuesday, with world record holder Katie Ledecky the overwhelming favourite in the 1500m freestyle.
The 28-year-old United States great is chasing a career 22nd world crown.
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