Swimmers make history in Olympic-first women’s 1500m freestyle event

In bizarre scenes at the Tokyo pool, an Olympic record was repeatedly bettered in the first ever women’s 1500m freestyle heats.

The first Olympic women's 1500m freestyle event took place on day three of the Tokyo games. Picture: 7Plus

The very first Olympic record for the women’s 1500m freestyle has been set and broken four times in one evening at Tokyo’s Aquatic Centre.

Canadian swimmer Katrina Bellio outshone her opponents Arianna Valloni from San Marino and Sasha Gatt from Malta in the event’s first ever heat on day three of the Tokyo Games.

The 16-year-old Canadian swam a time of 16:24.37, beating teenager Gatt and 20-year-old Valloni.

The trio had the pool to themselves for the opening heat, with the second heat commencing moments after its completion.

And of course, Bellio’s record was quickly broken by Austria’s Marlene Kahler in the second heat, and then again by Hunbary’s Viktoria Ihalyvari-Farkas in Heat 3.

And then again by America’s Erica Sullivan in Heat 4.

And then again by superstar swimmer Katie Ledecky in Heat 5.

According to the Channel 7 commentary team, certificates acknowledging each of the record-breakers will be handed out by the International Olympic Committee.

History was made on day three of the Olympics with the first women's 1500m freestyle event. Picture: Channel 7.

Australian swimmers Maddy Gough, 22, and Kiah Melverton, 24, were among the cohort in the historic races, registering times of 15:56.81 and 15:58.96 respectively

Both qualified for the women’s 1500m freestyle final, which is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at 12.45pm AEST.

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The women’s 1500m freestyle event has been part of world championship competitions since 2001, while men have been swimming the distance in the Olympics since 1908.

The Tokyo Games marks the first time women have been allowed to qualify and compete in the event as an Olympic sport.

Ledecky currently holds the 1500m freestyle world record with a time of 15:20.48.

She also holds the 400m freestyle record, but was bettered by Australian star Ariarne Titmus in dramatic scenes earlier on Monday.