Australia’s Ariarne Titmus has reclaimed the ladies’s 400 metres freestyle world file with a surprising victory on the world championships in Japan.
Titmus emphatically blew away feted rivals Summer season McIntosh from Canada and American nice Katie Ledecky to triumph in Sunday evening’s hyped closing in Fukuoka.
The Australian clocked three minutes 55.38 seconds, bettering McIntosh’s world mark of three:56.08 set final March.
“I used to be actually excited for this race … Katie and Summer season at all times put up a terrific combat,” stated Titmus, who held the benchmark time for 18 months earlier than McIntosh’s March feat.
“It’s simply nice to be part of it.”
Titmus completed 3.35 seconds forward of Ledecky, with McIntosh in third place some 4.21 seconds behind the Australian.
Quick joins his heroes
Earlier, Australia’s Sam Quick put a golden stamp on his arrival as a swimming power, successful the boys’s 400m freestyle.
Quick provides his identify to a wealthy Australian historical past within the 400m freestyle that includes legends Ian Thorpe, Grant Hackett and Kieren Perkins.
“They’re my heroes,” Quick stated.
“They’re a few of Australia’s finest athletes ever. It’s an honour to be with them.
“And hopefully I can proceed to maneuver ahead and at some point rival Thorpey within the rankings.”
The 19-year-old Quick, the youngest swimmer in Sunday evening’s closing, pipped Olympic champion Ahmed Hafnaoui by 0.02 seconds.
Quick led at each 100m mark earlier than the Tunisian challenged within the final 50m.
“I knew he received that dash end in Tokyo – he’s a giant man, I may see him coming at me that final 100,” Quick stated.
“And that final 25, I threw every little thing on the wall.
“I’m stoked. I couldn’t wait to get on the lane rope and begin flexing, to be trustworthy.
“It’s what you dream about as a younger man.”
Quick’s successful time of 3:40.68 is the fourth-fastest ever and simply 0.61 seconds outdoors of German nice Paul Biedermann’s world file set 14 years in the past.
-AAP