The special moment when swim great Tracey Wickham met Games golden girl Ariarne Titmus

Commonwealth Games golden girl Ariarne Titmus pressed cheeks with middle distance swimming great Tracey Wickham in a special exchange at last week’s Gold Coast Games, a moment which Titmus described as a “passing on the baton somewhat’’.

This picture is the special moment when swimming royalty met the heir to the throne, when Tracey Wickham pressed cheeks with Ariarne Titmus after the schoolgirl had won gold in the Commonwealth Games 400m freestyle.

It was a brief, private moment between the old and the new powerhouses of Australian women’s swimming, a meeting which happened prior to Titmus striding onto the pool deck to receive her gold medal from Wickham.

“For Tracey to present me my medal after the 400, it was extra special because of her connection to the race. It was kind of like her passing on the baton somewhat,’’ Titmus said.

The 400m women’s freestyle was made famous by Wickham 40 years ago when, also as a schoolgirl, she broke the 400m world record at the 1978 Berlin World Championship.

At the same meet Wickham also broke the 800m freestyle record, another pet event of Titmus.

“I knew Tracey held the world record for the 400 and 800. That’s why when she presented my medal to me I was so excited,’’ Titmus added.

Ariarne Titmus celebrates after the 400m freestyle.

Wickham said she was thrilled to meet 17-year-old Titmus. “She is a lovely girl, really sweet,’’ Wickham said.

“She has a lovely smile and is very tall. She was even bending her knees for the photo with me.

“I am glad we have an Aussie star here and one who has the potential of getting up on the world stage with the great (USA swimmer) Katie Ledecky.’’

Just as Titmus said she loved receiving her 400m gold medal from Wickham, Wickham said she cherished the time she was presented with her Commonwealth Games 400m gold medal by the Queen in Brisbane in 1982.

“I let her speak first because that was protocol,’’ Wickham recalled.

“I then grabbed her by one of her gloved hands. I had my two hands around her hand and I said “thank you very much mam, it is an honour to meet you’. I then went woo-hoo and put my hands up in the air.’’

Wickham, whose best times would have been good enough to claim minor medals at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, said Titmus’ gold medal winning efforts in the 400m and 800m, and her world class swim for silver in the 200m, should give her confidence pushing on to the 2020 Olympic Games.