Swimming world erupts over Ariarne Titmus feat at Comm Games: 'Epic'
Olympic swimming sensation Ariarne Titmus has delivered a gold and a Commonwealth Games record in the 200m freestyle with Australia also picking up silver and bronze.
In one of the night's best races, Titmus broke the Commonwealth Games record with a stunning swim of 1:53.89 in Birmingham.
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However, 18-year-old Mollie O'Callaghan surprised viewers and pushed Titmus right until the end with a brilliant time of 1:54.01.
Australia collected 1-2-3 with Maddie Wilson picking up bronze.
Titmus' swim was the fourth fastest of her career and the eighth fastest time in the 200m event of all-time.
Incredibly, O'Callaghan recorded a personal best and the 10th fastest time in the history of the event.
Titmus currently holds three of the four fastest times ever recorded in the event, but the world record still evades her.
Viewers erupted over the thrilling finish, which signals a strong sign for Australian swimming with O'Callaghan emerging as a real talent.
What a finish!
18-year-old Mollie O'Callaghan pushed Ariarne Titmus all the way in the 200m freestyle 😮#B2022 pic.twitter.com/3Wh2jshp8h— 7Sport (@7Sport) July 29, 2022
During the first day of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Ariarne Titmus won the women’s 200 free in a 1:53.89. This is the 4th-fastest performance in her career, and the 8th-fastest swim ever in the event. Silver medalist Mollie O’Callaghan set a personal best of 1:54.01. pic.twitter.com/kt1fPNVWKM
— Swimming Stats (@SwimmingStats) July 29, 2022
Gold for Ariarne Titmus! 🥇
But what an awesome race from the Aussies taking 1-2-3 again in the 200m freestyle.
Mollie O'Callagahan goes so close to upsetting Titmus. Madi Wilson grabs bronze.
But Titmus takes it in a Games Record - 1:53.89.#B2022 #CommonwealthGames— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) July 29, 2022
Mollie O'Callaghan🇦🇺 running down Ariarne Titmus🇦🇺 and nearly catching her is a promising sight for Swimming Australia moving forward to 2024.
— Andy Ross (@andy_ross4) July 29, 2022
A new Games Record for Ariarne Titmus in the 200m Freestyle final. A 1-2-3 for the Aussies with 12/100th of a second separating 1st and 2nd.
EPIC GAMES SO FAR 🔥#B2022 pic.twitter.com/iwywbJtXNE— Women's SportsZone #B2022 (@WSportsZone) July 29, 2022
Ariarne Titmus with a 200m freestyle Games Recordddddd #B2022pic.twitter.com/0sCfUsWfPq
— Radha🧣 (@radhalathgupta) July 29, 2022
Absolutely fantastic evening at #Birmingham Sandwell Aquatics Centre, including seeing the incredible Ariarne Titmus set a new #CommonwealthGames record! #B2022 pic.twitter.com/eFyB7hofHK
— Andy Shepherd (@AndyShep_CPOM) July 29, 2022
Australia cleans up at Commonwealth Games
The Aussies enjoyed a stunning start to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Australia won five of the seven gold medals on offer in the first night of the pool.
In a similar feat to the women, Elijah Winnington won gold in the men's 400m freestyle with at time of 3:43.06, finishing ahead of fellow Aussies Sam Short and Mack Horton.
Horton enjoyed a strong heat time, but couldn't convert in the final.
Olympic champion Zac Stubblety-Cook added to his World Championship title to win the men's 200m breaststroke.
Tim Hodge won his first ever para-swimming gold in the men’s S9 100m backstroke with a time of 1:01.88.
And in a thrilling finale to the night, star quartet William Yang, Kyle Chalmers, Mollie O’Callaghan and Emma McKeon won the mixed 4x100m relay with a time of 3:21.18s, only slightly edging out England's 3:22.45.
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