BRISBANE, Australia — Ariarne Titmus set a world record in the women's 200-meter freestyle at Australia's Olympic swimming trials on Wednesday.
Titmuss finished in a time of 1 minute 52.23 seconds in the final, shaving almost two-thirds of a second off the world record of 1 minute 52.85 seconds set by Molly O'Callaghan at last year's world championships.
O'Callaghan placed second at the Australian Championships in 1 minute 52.48 seconds.
Titmuss, an Olympic champion in the 200m and 400m freestyle, currently holds the world records in both events.
“Honestly, the world record is just a bonus,” she said. “I'm happy to finally be able to swim to my ability and excited to do it in front of my hometown crowd.”
Both Titmuss and O'Callaghan work under the same coach, Dean Boxall.
“We don't really see what each other does in training. We're completely separate. She trains for the sprints and I train for the middle distances,” Titmus said. “When I look at world records, I don't look at who has it. I look at the times.”
Ariarne Titmus swims in the women's 200m freestyle final at the Australian Olympic Swimming Championships at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre in Brisbane, Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Titmus set a world record in the women's 200m freestyle at the Australian Olympic Swimming Championships on Wednesday. Photo by AP/JONO SEARLE
Titmuss said setting a record was “not even in my sights” with the Paris Olympics approaching, which begin on July 26.
“I just wanted to have a great swim and I'll have a chance to do it again in Paris,” she said.
O'Callaghan, 20, said she felt anxious before the race because she was competing as the record holder.
“I didn't sleep well last night,” she said. “I'm still learning. I'm still young and not as experienced as the other girls, so I'm open to anything at this point.”
Australia's Ariarne Titmus holds up her gold medal after winning the women's 200-meter freestyle final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Wednesday, July 28, 2021. Titmus set a world record in the women's 200-meter freestyle during the Australian Olympic Swimming Trials, Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo by AP/Matthias Schroeder
Titmuss and O'Callaghan finished more than three seconds ahead of the other competitors in the final, with Lani Pallister in third, Brianna Throssell in fourth and Shayna Jack in fifth place alongside Jamie Perkins.
The top six swimmers are expected to make up Australia's 4×200 freestyle relay team in Paris, where the Australian holds the world record.
Australia's Olympic team will be confirmed at the weekend after six days of qualifying at Brisbane's Chandler Aquatics Centre.
