Legend's message for Ariarne Titmus amid 'unprecedented' Mollie O’Callaghan detail at Olympics
The Aussie stars will battle for gold in one of the most eagerly awaited races of the Paris Games.
Swimming legend James Magnussen admits he's "never seen" anything like the gold medal battle that has unfolded between Australian superstars Ariarne Titmus and Mollie O’Callaghan at the Olympic Games in Paris. Titmus and O’Callaghan are close friends and share the same coach but on Tuesday morning (AEST) they will become fierce rivals in the pool as they go toe-to-toe in the final of the women's 200m freestyle.
The Queenslanders are both coached by Dean Boxall and have the two fastest times in the history of the event, setting the scene for an epic showdown on the third night of the swimming program. O’Callaghan first broke Federica Pellegrini’s long-standing world record when she beat Titmus to claim gold at last year's world championships, only for Titmus to break the record again six weeks ago when she clocked 1:52.23 at the Australian Olympic Trials in Brisbane.
As well as being the world record holder, Titmus is also the defending Olympic champion in the 200 freestyle. And the 23-year-old is aiming to become the first swimmer to successfully defend 200m and 400m freestyle titles at an Olympic Games, following her epic triumph over Summer McIntosh and Katie Ledecky on the opening night. If Titmus is able to achieve the extraordinary feat she will also become the first Australian Olympian to win more than three individual gold medals.
Titmus and O'Callaghan both cruised into the final of the 200 free as the top-two qualifiers, with Titmus winning narrowly ahead of O'Callaghan to book her spot in lane four. And Magnussen says he believes it could represent a psychological blow for Titmus after describing the showdown between the Aussie teammates as an "unprecedented" situation.
"We’ve never seen before the fastest and second fastest swimmer in history in that event training in the same squad. It’s never been done,” Magnussen said on the Matty & The Missile podcast on Monday. The Aussie swimming great also pondered what message both women would receive before the final, considering they are both coached by Boxall.
“Dean needs to turn to Mollie and say, ‘here’s your game plan tonight to beat Ariane’. And then he needs to turn to Ariane and say, ‘Ariane, here’s your game plan to beat Mollie’," Magnussen added. “I’m not sure how it works. It’s never happened in my career, but it’s fascinating. It’s fascinating. Who’s his favourite? I don’t know. Surely he can’t have a favourite."
What time will Ariarne Titmus and Mollie O’Callaghan race?
Titmus and O’Callaghan will swim for gold in the final of the 200m freestyle at approximately 5.41am on Tuesday (AEST). And Magnussen has challenged Titmus to be ruthless with her friend and teammate like she would with American rival Katie Ladecky, if the defending champion wants to create more Aussie swimming history.
“If I was Ariarne, I’d stare her down. I’d get in her head because I want to win at all costs,” Magnussen said. “But in saying that, I’ve never raced one of my best friends in the Olympic final in front of the world’s media, right? But if I was Ariarne, I’d be trying to get in Mollie’s head.
“I’m not sure what their relationship is. They must be close friends. They spend six hours a day together every day of the week, every day of the year. So they must be close friends. So that’s what just makes it all the more intriguing.” Although very little separates the Aussie swimmers in the eyes of bookmakers, Magnussen insists Titmus has already sent a statement of intent by qualifying fastest - even if the Tasmania-born Queenslander doesn't see it that way.
"You always want to be in the middle of the pool in a final and get yourself in a good position," Titmus said after qualifying fastest for the final. "But that was really the only plan for tonight, I tried to conserve as much as I could." Titmus banked the first leg of a potential golden double at the Olympics by winning the 400m freestyle, while O'Callaghan also collected gold as part of Australia's triumphant 4x100m freestyle relay team.
Before both Aussie women compete for another gold on the third night in the pool, fellow Aussie Maximillian Giuliani will also be hoping to medal in the final of the men's 200m freestyle final (4.40am AEST). Giuliani was fifth-fastest in the semis and will start in lane two, with Romania's David Popovici clocking the fastest time to claim lane four.
with AAP
