Tears trickle down Titmus’ cheeks as O’Callaghan outguns her in 200m final

Mollie O’Callaghan’s hands were shaking as she adjusted her goggles for the race of her life, but the young woman from Brisbane managed to control her nerves to show off her world-famous turn of speed and upset Ariarne Titmus in the Olympic final of the women’s 200m freestyle in Paris.

In a contest that was every bit as engrossing as it was hyped up to be, the training partners became the first Australian swimmers to go one-two at the Olympics since Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett won gold and silver in the men’s 400m freestyle in Athens 20 years ago.

O’Callaghan broke Titmus’ Olympic record to win in 1:53.27s, pulling away from the triple Olympic gold medallist in the last 25 metres.

Titmus was classy in defeat, embracing O’Callaghan over the lane rope at the end of the race, but the beaten champion struggled to hold it together as the pair stood on pool deck in front of the cameras together after the race. Tears trickled down her cheeks.

“I’ve had the feeling of what it’s like to be Olympic champion and now its [her turn] to feel it,” Titmus said. “I’m really happy for her.”

O’Callaghan was equally classy in victory, inviting Titmus to share the top step of the podium with her for the medal ceremony.

Mollie O’Callaghan and Ariarne Titmus side by side at the 200m freestyle final. O’Callaghan beat Titmus in a new Olympic record time.Credit: Getty Images

Titmus, who was attempting to defend her 200m from the Tokyo Games and complete the 200-400 double in Paris, paid the price for a poor dive.

“I think that start scared her a bit to be honest,” remarked Giaan Rooney in commentary.

But Titmus clawed her way back into the race. Hong Kong swimmer Siobhan Haughey was in front at the final turn, Titmus second and O’Callaghan third. But the 20-year-old showed her sprinting chops to blow them both away.

“It’s such an honour to compete against Arnie. She is an absolute gun. She races like an absolute beast. And it’s an honour to train alongside her and have such a great team around us,” O’Callaghan told Channel Nine on pool deck afterwards.

Their intense coach Dean Boxall applauded the younger swimmer in a more restrained way than the gyrating celebrations he made famous when Titmus won the 400m freestyle in Tokyo, respectful of the fact that one of his charges had been beaten.

“He is a brilliant coach,” O’Callaghan said. “I believe the best in the world. To manage this and have the two fastest girls in the world is a credit to him. It’s not just us; opening night he contributed to every medal that we won. I just feel very blessed to have him in our corner.”

O’Callaghan was part of the world-beating 4x100m freestyle relay team that won gold on the opening night of these Olympics at Paris La Defence Arena, and was a heat swimmer for both freestyle relay medals (gold in the 4x100m and bronze in the 4x200m) in Tokyo. But this was her first individual gold.

A month ago, it was O’Callaghan who burst into tears after she was beaten by Titmus at selection trials, where both women swam underneath the world record.

Mollie O’Callaghan celebrates her triumph with Ariarne Titmus.Credit: AP

She admitted that being the world-record holder had “screwed” with her. It would have been understandable if the woman who trains in the same pool, who raced in the next lane, who beat her by the finest of margins at the trials and in their semi-final here, had got inside her head.

The two Australians owned eight of the top 10 fastest times in history over 200m leading into Paris, and while Boxall largely keeps them apart in training, they cannot escape each other’s orbit.

“We are competitors and we’re also teammates. It’s really tough. We both push each other to the limits,” O’Callaghan said.

She added: “You’ve got to accept the challenge at the end of the day. You can either run or fight. I chose to fight.

“I always put a lot of pressure on myself. I just had to put it behind me. There’s less pressure now, I get to swim freely.”

These two generational swimmers are not done yet. O’Callaghan has the 100m freestyle to come, while Titmus will resume her rivalry with American legend Katie Ledecky in the 800m.

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