Ariarne Titmus has smashed the 200m freestyle world record by 0.86 seconds in one of the most thrilling races in Australian swimming history.
Not only did Titmus nab the world record in a time of 1:52.23, her training partner and former record holder Mollie O’Callaghan, raced her to the finish, clocking a time of 1:52.48.
Competing at the Australian Olympic trials in Brisbane on Wednesday night, the pair both beat O’Callaghan’s previous record mark of 1:52.85.
“I’m just really happy to finally produce a swim in the 200m that I feel like my training reflects,” said Titmus, the newest world record holder.
“I think just the field that we have is why we’re swimming so fast. We push each other everyday,” she said.
Emerging from Tasmania as one of the world’s best female middle-distance swimmers, Titmus made her Olympic debut in Tokyo 2020, winning two golds, a silver and a bronze in the pool. She’s also made her global mark in 2018 with two gold medals and a silver in freestyle events at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. That same year, she set a new women’s short-course 400m freestyle world record (3:53:92).
With the 2024 Paris Olympics coming up fast, the performances on Wednesday from Titmus, 23, and O’Callaghan, 20, in one of the most powerful fields assembled in Australian swimming offers more than hope for the nation’s prospects of medalling.
O’Callaghan had already secured her place on Australia’s swimming team, via the 100-metre backstroke, a night earlier.
And despite the obvious disappointment of missing out on the world record to a teammate, was gracious in her support of Titmus, saying: “I think it’s amazing. We push each other to the best of our limits.”
“It really shows how hard we train. I’m still learning and getting used to this 200m freestyle. It’s a very difficult event to get your head around.”
Prior to the race, it was clear that O’Callaghan and Titmus were top of their field. In the past 12 months, O’Callaghan had swum four of the seven fastest times in the world, with Titmus swimming the second fastest time in that period too.
Their coach, Dean Boxall, had three other athletes in this anticipated race as well– Brianna Throssell (who placed fourth), Shayna Jack and 19-year-old Jamie Perkins.
Lani Pallister of Griffith University took third place, and all six Australian swimmers went under the qualification time.
A world-renowned coach known for celebrating in a typically flamboyant manner, Boxall was calm after the gripping race and celebrated by holding up five fingers to honour all five of his swimmers. He’ll likely reunite with them as a coach of the relay teams in Paris.
“To have five girls under Dean in that final is incredible and it’s a credit to him,” Titmus said.
“When you’ve got someone like that in your corner, you’d beat everyone. He has the most passion and the most pride to be a part of this swim team.”