Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus shattered the women’s 200m freestyle world record at the Australian Olympic trials in Brisbane on Wednesday.
Titmus clocked 1:52.23 and surpassed compatriot Mollie O’Callaghan’s previous record of 1:52.85 from the World Championships in Fukuoka.
This impressive feat secures Titmus a spot in her second event at the Paris Olympics 2024, following her victory in the 400m freestyle with the second-fastest time in history, just 0.06 seconds off her best.
Both Titmus and O’Callaghan broke the previous world record, with Titmus touching in 1:52.23 ahead of O’Callaghan’s 1:52.48 in a fierce final.
Titmus acknowledged the intense competition, noting the strength of the entire field and the potential for gold with their relay team.
Despite O’Callaghan’s disappointment, both swimmers expressed mutual respect and appreciation for pushing each other to their limits.
The race commentator, Mat Thompson, hailed it as one of the greatest races ever, with Titmus now holding both the 200m and 400m freestyle world records.
As they prepare for the Paris Olympics just weeks away, the Australian team, with their dominant performances, is set to be a formidable contender for relay gold.
“People think that it’s probably just going to be Mollie and I out the front but I think the entire field is going to be competitive because it’s a very high chance that’s a gold medal possibility with that relay team,” Ariarne Titmus said.
