BREAKING: Ariarne Titmus (1:52.23) Wins World Record Breaking Duel With Mollie O’Callaghan In Epic 200m Freestyle Battle Royal
Ariarne Titmus and Mollie O’Callaghan have lifted the roof off the Brisbane Aquatic Centre tonight in a world record race for the ages with Titmus setting a new global mark in the 200m freestyle on one of Australian swimming’s most memorable nights.
Both girls swimming under the O’Callaghan’s old world mark (1:52.85 set at the 2023 Fukuoka World’s) – Titmus out-touching her St Peters Western teammate – clocking 1:52.23 (26.64; 55.13; 1:23.95) to O’Callaghan’s 1:52.48 (26.59; 55.33; 1:24.11)– Titmus taking a whopping 0.62 off the previous mark – beating her team mate by 0.25.
And it was Lani Pallister (Griffith University) second to Titmus in the 400m for a Paris berth, touching third in her personal best time of 1:55.57. The first six swimmers all under the Olympic qualifying time of 1:56.49 (see Results below) including all four St Peters Western swimmers who broke the world record in the 4x200m freestyle in Fukuoka last year (Titmus,O’Callaghan, Brianna Throssell and Shayna Jack).
Titmus in lane four, O’Callaghan in lane five, producing an epic stroke-for-stroke battle royal.
Down the first lap it was Jack, who took the race out under world record pace – spitting 26.24 at the first turn.
YEAH BABY: A world record reaction from Australia’s Ariarne Titmus after smashing the 200 free world mark in Brisbane. Photo Courtesy Wade Brennan (Wade’s Photos)
And it was the signal for her two teammates – Titmus the Olympic champion and Mollie “O” the 2023 world champion and world record holder to push themselves where no women had ever ventured before.
At the 100m mark it was Titmus 0.81 seconds ahead of world record pace, Mollie right on her shoulder, the crowd on its feet, as they reacted to one of the greatest four-lap duels in swimming history.
By the 150m mark it was still Titmus in front, 0.79 under world time – both girls pushing hard off the final turn and for the next 25 metres it was Mollie O who lifted, her signature six-beat kick surging her narrowly into the lead, edging in front of her teammate.
And just when it looked like the world champ from Fukuoka would take over, the Olympic champ dug deeper than she’s ever dug before, finding something to edge oh so narrowly in front.
For the last 15 metres the two girls swam stroke for stroke, the crowd stomping and screaming – lifting the roof off the famous old Brisbane pool at Chandler, Titmus touching the wall 0,25secs ahead of O’Callaghan. What a battle it was..gripping from start to finish and off every turn – swimming at a never seen before level of power and determination.
An elated Titmus out-touched Mollie and smashed the water with a clenched fist in elation, with Mollie bravely coming to terms with the fact that she had just swum faster than she had ever swum in her life but had lost her prized world record – devastation.
Their coach Dean Boxall, prancing along the top deck of the pool, remonstrating with himself and signaling to the crowd that he had five swimmers of the eight finalists in the water and the two fastest swimmers of all time who will headline the Dolphins at the Paris Olympics in what will be the most anticipated re-match of the Games.
GET AROUND HER: Lani Pallister and Brianna Throssell congratulate Ariarne Titmus. Photo Courtesy Wade Brennan (Wade’s Photos)
Titmus praised her team mates, coach Boxall and the St Peters Western program, saying: “This race is so hotly contested that both Mollie and I have to put our best foot forward to (even) make this team for the relay, looking at (all) the results it’s just unbelievable.
“I am just really happy to finally produce a swim in the 200m that my training reflects. I think that the field that we have is why we are swimming so fast.
“We push each other every day…to have five girls under Dean in that final is unbelievable it’s a credit to him and the program…”
The St Peters Western girls certainly push each other to their limits, O’Callaghan saying: “It really shows how hard we train.”
O’Callaghan admitting she is still learning how to swim the 200m freestyle.
“I’m not really that experienced just yet..I’m still learning…I’m still really getting used to this 200m freestyle…it’s a very difficult evet to get your head around,” said Mollie O.
“This morning and last night I couldn’t really sleep…especially after that 100m backstroke (last night) I felt quite taxed and the last few days I have just been eaten up by nerves…”
AUSTRALIAN TRIALS Women’s 200m Freestyle
1) TITMUS, ARIARNE (23) ST PETERS WESTERN,QLD 1:52.23W
r:+0.74 26.64 55.13 (28.49)
1:23.95 (28.82) 1:52.23 (28.28)
2) O'CALLAGHAN, MOLLIEn (20) ST PETERS WESTERN,QLD 1:52.48W
r:+0.69 26.59 55.33 (28.74)
1:24.11 (28.78) 1:52.48 (28.37)
3) PALLISTER, LANI (22) GRIFFITH UNI, QLD 1:55.57Q
r:+0.67 27.31 56.67 (29.36)
1:26.29 (29.62) 1:55.57 (29.28)
4) THROSSELL, BRIANNA (28) ST PETERS WESTERN,QLD 1:55.74Q
r:+0.72 27.24 56.81 (29.57)
1:26.51 (29.70) 1:55.74 (29.23)
=5) JACK, SHAYNA (25) ST PETERS WESTERN,QLD 1:56.22Q
r:+0.71 26.24 55.70 (29.46)
1:26.32 (30.62) 1:56.22 (29.90)
=5) PERKINS, JAMIE (19) ST PETERS WESTERN,QLD 1:56.22Q
r:+0.75 27.28 56.93 (29.65)
1:27.08 (30.15) 1:56.22 (29.14)
7) CASTELLUZZO, BRITTANY (23) TEA TREE GULLY SA 1:56.77
r:+0.64 27.24 57.15 (29.91)
1:27.22 (30.07) 1:56.77 (29.55)
8) HARRIS, MEG (22) RACKLEY, QLD 1:56.93
r:+0.73 26.72 56.03 (29.31)
1:26.69 (30.66) 1:56.93 (30.24)
2024 AUSTRALIAN TRIALS EVENT PAGE
ON TOP OF THE WORLD: Ariarne Titmus floats like a butterfly..stings like bee….Photo Courtesy Wade Brennan (Wades Photos)
Come Paris the Women’s 4×200m Freestyle Relay is Gone!
1:52.23 Arnie
1:52.48 Mollie
1:55.57 Lani
1:55.74 Bri
=
7:36.02
7:34.52 -1.5
USA (Silver) at Fukuoka were 7:41:38
China (Bronze) a 7:44 +
Split this Aussie final evenly and both teams would still beat the US and China!
Australia 26 million
USA 341 million
China 1.43 Billion!
I can’t remember when anyone cares about the populations of the countries and times of what hasn’t happened yet.
Merely pointing out the disparity of available talent pool. USA is 13 times larger yet were beaten in Golds at Fukuoka by little Australia. China has nearly 60 times our population!
We ‘punch far above our weight!
Guffaw!
I see that Truth Hurts ,by that down vote!