Ariarne Titmus Attacks World Record En Route to No. 3 Time in History in 200 Freestyle at Australian Champs
Over the past few years, Ariarne Titmus has wowed the world with her freestyle excellence, double-Olympic gold secured last summer at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. All that remains is a world record for Titmus, and it nearly happened on Friday night at the Australian Championships in Adelaide.
: Ariarne Titmus in spectacular form. Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
Threatening the super-suited standard of Italian legend Federica Pellegrini, which has stood at 1:52.98 since 2009, Titmus clocked the No. 3 time in history with an effort of 1:53.31. Titmus, who has a career best of 1:53.09, was ahead of world-record pace for a good portion of the race and still within striking distance with 15 meters to go, when Pellegrini’s polyurethane-boosted pace took over.
Nonetheless, Titmus unleashed a spectacular performance, the latest in a growing collection of standout marks by the 21-year-old from St. Peters Western. Titmus was out in 26.77 and made the turn at the midway mark in 55.57. She was timed in 1:24.52 at the 150-meter mark, her heels shown to the field.
“I’ve been swimming well and listened to (Zac Stubblety-Cook) about swimming free,” Titmus told Giaan Rooney on Amazon Prime. “Sometimes, people think when you become an Olympic champion, you can become complacent. For me, I think it has me swimming better; I’m swimming with freedom and enjoying the moment.”
Titmus confirmed her plans to not attend next month’s World Championships in Budapest, having decided to place her attention on the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Although Titmus’ decision will mean a delay of her next clash with American star Katie Ledecky, the Commonwealth Games will offer Titmus her next opportunity at Pellegrini’s world record. Titmus now has the second, third and fourth-fastest swims of all-time.
SWIMMING FREE-style: Ariarne Titmus shows the style that makes her one of the world’s best. Photo Courtesy:Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
Finishing behind Titmus was her St. Peters Western teammate Mollie O’Callaghan, with the 18-year-old clocking in at 1:54.94. It has been an impressive meet for O’Callaghan, as she earlier captured titles in the 100 freestyle and 50 backstroke. Following Titmus and O’Callaghan were Madison Wilson (1:55.86) and Kiah Melverton (1:55.94).
The title in the men’s 800 freestyle went to Elijah Winnington, who was already qualified for the World Championships in the 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle. Winnington shifted into a higher gear over the last 400 meters, where he pulled away from Sam Short and won in 7:45.30. Winnington has not committed to Worlds in the 800 free, but the option is there for Budapest. Short is a feel-good story, as he will head to Budapest after just missing the Olympic Games last summer. Short was second in the 1500 freestyle at the Aussie Trials, but he missed the qualifying time and was left home. Behind Winnington, Short touched in 7:48.65.
A day after setting the world record in the 200 breaststroke, in a time of 2:05.95, Zac Stubblety-Cook set a personal best of 59.60 to win the 100 breaststroke. Stubblety-Cook came from well off the pace to catch the field and add a second event for the World Champs.
Jenna Strauch and Abbey Harkin replicated their one-two finish from the 100 breaststroke in the 200 breaststroke, as Strauch prevailed in 2:23.26, more than a second clear of Harkin (2:24.85). Strauch was in command by the halfway point and continued to extend her lead over the back half of the race.
YEAH BABY: The moment Isaac Cooper broke Ben Treffers long standing Australian 50m backstroke record. Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
An Australian record went down in the 50 backstroke, where Isaac Cooper produced a time of 24.44 to take down Ben Treffers‘ former standard of 24.54, set in 2014. Cooper won the race in dominating fashion, as Ben Armbruster was second in 25.13.
“I’ve been looking for that for a while,” Cooper said. “I know it’s not an Olympic event, but I’ve been pushing and going after that record for some time. I’m happy my name is in the (record) book now.”
In the men’s 200 individual medley, Brendon Smith and Se-Bom Lee were the only athletes to crack the two-minute barrier, with Smith grabbing the gold in 1:58.59. Lee was right behind in 1:59.48. Smith’s effort bodes well for the 400 individual medley, where he is the reigning Olympic bronze medalist.
IM DOUBLE: Brendon Smith on his way to the 200IM National title. Photo Courtesy:Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
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Would love to see Titmus blast that supersuit record.
Yep. Pellegrini came home like a freight train (as per her usual tactic). Of course the suit was in play. So, anyone who wants to break this record will have to swim the first 150 well under Pellegrini’s pace.