Australia’s rising distance star Ariarne Titmus won an exciting women’s 400 freestyle at the 2018 FINA Swimming Short Course Worlds in a World Record time of 3:53.92. The previous record was held by China’s Wang Jianjiahe, who was also in this final and finished second in 3:54.56. Her teammate Li Bingjie was third in 3:57.99.
Immediately after her record-breaking swim Titmus said: “I am a little bit in shock actually, after the 200 freestyle I thought I had a chance, but I don’t really think about that type of thing I just wanted to do my race.
“I have put in a lot of hard work since our trials five weeks ago as I wasn’t happy with how I raced there, so I put in five weeks of really hard training and the turnaround that I have had in that time has been unbelievable.
“I have dropped six seconds in my 400 in five weeks, so it just goes to show that training hard works,” she added.
While Titmus and Jianjiahe were securely in first and second throughout, Bingjie earned her medal after a back-and-forth battle with USA’s Leah Smith who finished fourth in 3:58.58. Smith was in medal-contention at both the 150- and 350-meter marks, but Bingjie out-did the field on the final fifty with a 28.87.
Rounding out the heat were Anna Egorova (Russia – 4:01.52), Valeriia Salamatina (Russia – 4:02.87), Sarah Kohler (Germany – 4:03.28) and Erica Musso (Italy – 4:03.61).
All-Time Rankings:
- Ariarne Titmus, AUS, 3:53.92 (2018)
- Wang Jianjiahe, CHN, 3:53.97 (2018)
- Mireia Belmonte, ESP, 3:54.52 (2013)
- Camille Muffat, FRA, 3:54.85 (2012)
- Joanne Jackson, GBR, 3:54.92 (2009)
- Lauren Boyle, NZL, 3:55.16 (2013)
- Laure Manaudou, FRA, 3:56.09 (2006)
- Coralie Balmy, FRA, 3:56.24 (2008)
World Record Progression:
- Ariarne Titmus, AUS, 3:53.92 (2018)
- Wang Jianjiahe, CHN, 3:53.97 (2018)
- Mireia Belmonte, ESP, 3:54.52 (2013)
- Camille Muffat, FRA, 3:54.85 (2012)
- Joanne Jackson, GBR, 3:54.92 (2009)
- Laure Manaudou, FRA, 3:56.09 (2006)
- Laure Manaudou, FRA, 3:56.79 (2005)
- Lindsay Benko, USA, 3:59.53 (2003)
Seems she will be the Olympic Champion in 2- years.
Congratulations