The Australian Olympic swimming trials on Wednesday night were nothing short of historic, featuring remarkable performances and emotional milestones. Ariarne Titmus broke the world record in the 200m freestyle, Shayna Jack secured a spot at her first Olympics, and Cameron McEvoy made history as the first Australian male swimmer to qualify for four Olympic Games.
In an exhilarating final, Titmus defeated Mollie O'Callaghan in a fierce battle.
Titmus clocked an impressive 1:52.23, surpassing O'Callaghan’s previous world record time of 1:52.85 set at last year’s world championships. O'Callaghan also exceeded her prior record, finishing with a time of 1:52.48, making it the second-fastest in the history of the event.
The results were a significant warning to the rest of the world as the Paris Olympics approach, with Australia now positioned as a strong contender for the top two spots.
Titmus, who already holds the world records for the 200m and 400m freestyle, is the reigning Olympic champion in both events.
“Honestly, the world record is a bonus,” Titmus said. “I am happy to finally put together a swim that I know I'm capable of, and it’s exciting to do it in my hometown.”
Titmus revealed that she did not use O'Callaghan’s world record as extra motivation. “We really don’t see what each other is doing in training; we are very separate,” she said.
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