For Ledecky it was the first time in 36 major international meets (Olympics, Worlds, Pan Pacs) that she did not win a medal. Titmus also joins Gould (1972) and Australia’s greatest Olympian Ian Thorpe (Athens in 2004) to win the 200-400m freestyle double. “Arnie” as dad Steve affectionately calls his “Terminator” daughter, becomes only the third Australian woman joining Shane Gould (1972 in Munich) and Susie O’Neill (2000 in Sydney) to win the 200m freestyle since it was first included on the Olympic program and won by American Debbie Meyer in Mexico in 1968. There was a tearful pooldeck reunion between Titmus and mad-cap coach Dean Boxall, with her Mum and dad, sister and grand parents watching on and screeaming at the television from Noosa on the Queensland Sunshine Coast, where the parents of the Australian Dolphins (PODS) are watching every golden lap. Ledecky was gallant in defeat again but was no match for her younger rivals in another greatly anticipated race dubbed in Australia as “The Tokyo Tussle II” – with television audiences in their millions around the world but particularly on NBC in US and the Seven Network in a swimming-crazed Australia.ĬALMING INFLUENCE: The softer side of Australia’s mad-cap- coach and “Ultimate Warrior” impersonator Dean Boxall who has been the man behind Australia’s latest freestyle swimming superstar Ariarne Titmus. Australia now has four gold in the pool – better than Rio, better than London and chasing a record golden haul. For Ledecky it was the first time in 36 major international meets (Olympics, Worlds, Pan Pacs) that she did not win a medal.īut the extraordinary athlete that Ledecky is, she returned to the pool, composed, controlled and on song to win her seventh Olympic gold taking the first historic 1500m gold in an emotionally charged 15.37.34.Įarlier in the week it was Titmus who stalked and then chased down defending champion Ledecky to snatch the Dolphins second gold of the Games in a gripping duel in the pool between these two great champions, in the 400m freestyle. Ledecky was never really in the hunt, seventh down the first 50 and fifth for the remainder of the race. champion Federica Pellegrini seventh in her fifth Olympic final in the event, in 1:55.91. The bronze medal going to Canada’s 2016 Olympic 100m champion and early leader Penny Oleksiak in 1:54.70 with defending champion Ledecky fifth in 1:55. 74 – the only swimmer in the field to break 29 seconds on the final lap. The 20-year-old Tasmanian-born Queenslander was too fast and too strong as she charged to the finish line in a new Olympic record time of 1:53.50 – breaking American Allison Schmitt’s 2012 mark of 1:53.61, with a brave earlier leader Siobhan Haughey taking silver in 1:53.92 and winning Hong Kong’s first ever Olympic swimming medal.Titmus was fifth at the 50m turn in 27.04, moving up to fourth at the half way mark in 55.85 before working hard to hit the 150m mark and powered off the final turn with Haughey – over half a second ahead – in her sights.īacking her backend speed and endurance that won her the 400m, Titmus stormed home to take the gold – splitting 28.80 on the final 50m – to Haughey’s 29. MASKED MARAUDER: Even a specially designed Australian mask can’t hide the obvious delight of a golden double for Ariarne Titmus – The Terminator strikes again in Tokyo.
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