Australia

Ariarne Titmus wins gold in the 400m freestyle, remarkably thwarting rival Katie Ledecky


Ariarne Titmus has produced one of the great moments in Australian Olympic history, beating the legendary American Katie Ledecky in the 400m freestyle final.

The two rivals have been waiting for years for a chance to race at the Olympics, but it was the Australian who reigned supreme with a winning time of 3:56.69.

Ledecky, the five-time Olympic gold medalist, looked to be controlling the race from first place from its early stages, but Titmus timed her run to perfection.

She surged ahead in the last 100m of the race, taking the lead and never looking back to record the win of her career.

“I can’t believe it. I’m trying to contain my emotions,” Titmus told Channel Seven, jokingly pointing out that she “has the 200m [freestyle heats] tonight”.

“This past year I don’t know whether it’s gone fast or slow, but to get here was a relief. To come here and do the job, I’m over the moon.”

Titmus and Ledecky have had a spirited rivalry over the years, but the Aussie had the last laugh in Tokyo.(

Getty Images: Al Bello

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Titmus paid tribute to Ledecky, who finished second ahead of China’s Li Bingjie.

“I thanked her, I wouldn’t be here without her. She set this incredible standard,” Titmus said.

“I’ve been trying to chase her — it’s really exciting now we have this battle going. It’s really fun to race.

“I tried to stay as composed as I could. Then just tried to stick to my race plan. I can’t believe I pulled it off.”

Earlier, Emma McKeon won bronze in a blistering 100m butterfly final in Tokyo.

McKeon was one of the favourites for the event having qualified as the third fastest through the heats, and she finished in a strong time of 55.72.

But that wasn’t enough to reel in young Canadian Maggie MacNeil, whose time of 55.59 was enough to claim the gold.

A woman wearing a white swimming cap is hugged by another woman wearing yellow swimming cap in a pool
Canada’s Margaret MacNeil wins the first gold medal for her country in the 100m butterfly final at the Tokyo Olympics.(

Getty Images: Davis Ramos

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McKeon was the slowest out of the blocks but rallied to turn in fourth place before pushing towards the wall.

In the end, only 0.01 seconds could separate McKeon from fourth-placed American Torri Huske.

“I am pretty pleased, I will be on the Olympic podium so you can’t really be more happy,” McKeon told Channel Seven after the race.

“I was just focusing on my race. I could see the American girl on the other side of me and I realised we were 0.01 off third and fourth.”

A woman swimming in a yellow swimming cap raising her arms above the water
Emma McKeon was slow out of the blocks, but made up ground impressively.(

Getty Images: Clive Rose

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McKeon was part of the Australian 4x100m freestyle relay team that won gold on Sunday, and is also one to watch in the 100m freestyle heats on Wednesday.

The Australian chase for gold in the pool continues on Monday, with the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team eyeing gold.



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