The world has exploded after Ariarne Titmus shattered the 200m freestyle world record to beat Mollie O’Callaghan in what is being called the “greatest race of all time”.
Both swimmers obliterated O’Callaghan’s previous world record of 1:52.85 set at last year’s world titles in Japan where she upset Titmus.
The result means Titmus now holds both the 200m and 400m world records. The top six finishers from the event are all likely to make the Australian squad as the 4x200m freestyle relay team - where the Aussies are favourites for gold.
Coach of both Titmus and O’Callaghan, the legendary Dean Boxall, greeted both women with “Yeah girls, yeah girls, Yes” as they walked into the media area.
Social media went into meltdown after the swim, with people from around the world in awe of Titmus and her epic showdown with O’Callaghan.
“She’s already destroyed most of the world’s best, she keeps doing it on the big stage,” one Facebook commenter wrote.
“And so legends are made, tears in my eyes, thanks girls – women’s sport, wow,” another commenter said.
What an incredible race!
â The Sports Niche (@thesportsniche) June 12, 2024
To understand how absurd those times are, consider that Mollie O'Callaghan's 1:52.85 WR from 2023 was the only sub-1:53 swim in history other than Federica Pellegrini's previous WR from 2009 (super-suit era)
Ariarne Titmus swam 1:52.23 to beat⦠https://t.co/wUfR12Myo3
Australian swimming staying ð¥
â Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) June 12, 2024
Mollie O'Callaghan broke her world record in the 200m free -- only to come in second place.
Ariarne Titmus breaks the 200m freestyle world record in 1.52.23 at Aussie trials in the same race. Outstanding stuff.
Absolutely buzzing after watching Ariarne Titmus OBLITERATE the world record in the 200 free tonight. I *knew* she was going to break that record! pic.twitter.com/hvl1XpnTBS
â Carole Triem (@TriemTeam) June 12, 2024
“It was a phenomenal race. My young swimmer was so excited to watch this unfold. She’s been so inspired by the women this week,” another Facebook commenter posted.
“Dominance,” one simply wrote.
Titmus’s win sets the stage for a titantic clash at the Paris Olympics in just a few months where she and O’Callaghan will come up against Canada’s Summer McIntosh, who has already qualified, and American Kate Ledecky, who is likely to book her place at the USA trials later this month.
ðââï¸ð¥ Epic Showdown Alert! ð¥ðââï¸
â Skills N' Talents / Swimming (@SkillsNTalents) June 12, 2024
After the stunning performances by Ariarne Titmus (NEW WR) and Mollie OâCallaghan at the Australian Swimming Trials, the battle in the 200 free is heating up! ðâ¨
If you have to predict the podium of this race, how do you think it will be?ð¥ð¥ð¥â¦ pic.twitter.com/vhWf5ULWbB
Amongst the outpouring of adulation for Titmus, there was also condolences for O’Callaghan who was visibly heartbroken by the result.
“Mollie looked devastated and shocked after that race. Well done Mollie!!! You broke the world record and STILL were beaten!!! Amazing performance use it as motivation to go faster in Paris!!! Be proud!!”
Mollie O'Callaghan swam faster than she ever had before but still lost her world record to clubmate and Olympic champion Arnie Titmus in the 200m freestyle tonight. Titmus set new mark of 1:52.23, Mollie O in 1:52.48 in the fastest race in history.
â Nicole Jeffery (@nicolejeffery) June 12, 2024
Behind the curtains of the Olympic swim trials, Mollie OâCallaghan broke down in tears.
â CODE Sports (@codesportsau) June 12, 2024
She had just swum the fastest 200m freestyle race of her life, a world record at that.
The only problem was Ariarne Titmus was even faster.
READ ð https://t.co/7nohdl1cYG | âï¸ @balymtpic.twitter.com/NLDcfLDmbb
“Gut busting! Imagine beating the world record in the trials and coming second! Thrilled for both girls but a bitter pill for Mollie.
THE TITMUS STORY
Titmus knew instantly she was born to be a swimmer when she plunged into a Launceston pool for the first time while at primary school.
“I remember we did school swimming and I thought, you know, I really like swimming,’’ she recalled to The Courier-Mail’s Andrew Dawson back in 2018 when she was a Year 12 student at Brisbane’s St Peters Lutheran College.
“I was seven so I went and signed up (for club) and started training, racing, and got into it.”
Titmus moved with her family from Tasmania to Queensland in 2015 to chase her swimming dreams, connecting with coach Dean Boxall.
She became a household name at the 2018 Commonwealth Games (alongside her super-enthusiastic dad Steve watching from the grandstands) when she claimed three gold medals in the 400m and 800m individual freestyle events and 4x200m relay.
In 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics, Titmus took gold in the 400m freestyle final, edging out world record holder Katie Ledecky and then went on to set a new Olympic record in the 200m freestyle.
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