Ariarne Titmus stunned in 200m freestyle as new Aussie star emerges

Ariarne Titmus is the reigning Olympic champion in the 200m freestyle — but has been forced to take a back seat to a new threat.

Ariarne Titmus reacts after competing in the final of the women’s 200m freestyle. (Photo by Pat Hoelscher / AFP)

Mollie O’Callaghan upset Tokyo Olympic champion Ariane Titmus to seize the 200m freestyle crown at the Australian championships on Thursday night.

Titmus, who won the 400m and 800m on the Gold Coast, is the Australian record holder in the 200m, hitting a personal best of 153:09 back in 2021.

But she was pipped at the post in a stacked field by O’Callaghan, the world champion over 100m who touched in 1:55.15.

Only Canadian star Summer McIntosh and American great Katie Ledecky have gone faster this year.

Shayna Jack was third ahead of backstroke world record holder Kaylee McKeown, who capped an impressive championships that saw her try her hand at different strokes.

“I’m happy with the time but also wish it was a lot faster than it was,” said O’Callaghan. “I felt dead in the end, I’m not going to lie. My legs were gone.”

It’s the second blow to Titmus’ supremacy in recent months after McIntosh broke her 400m freestyle world record at Canada’s world championship trials.

Titmus swam 4:00.49 — about four seconds slower — on the Gold Coast but was confident she had time to get where she needs to be before the world championships in Japan in July.

“I think if I was under that four-minute mark, it probably would it would have given me that extra confidence boost, but I know within myself where I’m at, so I can’t look into things too much,” she said.

“I know the realm I have to be swimming to be competitive to be on top of the podium at worlds,” she added.

“Trials are six weeks before that, if I’m swimming four minutes at trials, that’s not much time to get down to where I need to be to win.

“But I know that in eight weeks between now and trials I’ve got time to do a lot of really good work and have a rest as well.”

Mollie O'Callaghan charged home to win the 200m freestyle. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

In choosing to race freestyle, McKeown opted out of the 200m backstroke after setting a new world record just weeks ago at the New South Wales state championships.

In her absence, 16-year-old Jaclyn Barclay took the honours in 2:11.50 — a long way outside McKeown’s 2:03.14 world best.

Chalmers, who came second to American arch rival Caeleb Dressel in Tokyo, having won gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, showed he remains a serious player over the distance.

The 24-year-old touched in 48.00, holding off fast-improving teenagers Kai Taylor — who won the 200m title — and Flynn Southam, who came second and third.

Kyle Chalmers won the 100m freestyle. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

“For me, I love team success more than individual success so to have those young kids with me, I think we’re really going to do something special next year (at Paris Olympics) in the relay,” Chalmers said.

“These young guys are going so well, it inspires me to get out of bed.”

Pool queen Emma McKeon, a seven-time Tokyo Olympic medallist, was slated to race the 100m butterfly but opted out, leaving Brianna Throssell to take the title in 57.57.

In other events, Samuel Williamson (27.48) won the 50m breaststroke, while Olympic bronze medallist Brendon Smith claimed the 400m medley crown in 4:16.37.

Australia’s top swimmers will be back in the pool in June when they contest the world championship trials in Melbourne ahead of the main event at Japan a month later.

— with AFP