BRISBANE, Australia — Ariarne Titmus achieved a world record in the women’s 200-meter freestyle on Wednesday at Australia’s Olympic swimming trials.
Titmus completed the final in 1 minute, 52.23 seconds, surpassing Mollie O’Callaghan’s world record of 1:52.85 set at last year’s world championships.
O’Callaghan came in second at the Australian titles with a time of 1:52.48.
Titmus, the Olympic champion in the 200- and 400-meter freestyle events, now holds the world records in both events.
“Honestly, the world record is a bonus,” she said. “I’m happy to finally put together a swim that I know I’m capable of and it’s exciting to do it in my home town, in front of a home-town crowd.”
Titmus and O’Callaghan both work with the same coach, Dean Boxall.
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“We really don’t see what each other is doing in training, we are very separate — she trains for the sprint events, I train for middle distance,” Titmus said. “Looking at a world record, I don’t look at who has it. I look at the time.”
Titmus mentioned that a record wasn’t “on her radar” so close to the Paris Olympics, which begin on July 26.
“I just wanted to put together a great swim and I have the chance to do it again in Paris,” she expressed.
The 20-year-old O’Callaghan shared that she felt pre-race anxiety as the record holder.
“I couldn’t really sleep last night,” she admitted. “I’m still learning. I am only young and I am not as experienced as the other girls, so I will take anything at this point.”
Titmus and O’Callaghan were ahead of the rest of the field by more than three seconds in the final. Lani Pallister placed third, Brianna Throssell was fourth, and Shayna Jack tied for fifth with Jamie Perkins.
The top six swimmers are likely to compose Australia’s 4×200 freestyle relay team in Paris. The Australians currently hold the world record in the event.
Australia’s Olympic team will be finalized over the weekend after the six-day trials at Brisbane’s Chandler Aquatic Center.
