Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus has broken the 400m women’s freestyle world record of great United States rival Katie Ledecky in a spellbinding performance at the Australian swimming championships.
After going incredibly close to snatching the 200m world record earlier in the Adelaide meet, Titmus posted 3:56.40 to edge the previous mark of 3:56.46, set by Ledecky during her unstoppable reign at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Titmus registered a time 0.23 seconds faster than what she swam to defeat Ledecky in their legendary showdown in Tokyo last year.
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The 21-year-old gave an insight into the mindset that allowed her to snare her maiden world record.
“It’s nice now everyone can stop asking when I’m going to break a world record,” Titmus said.
“I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life. It’s definitely showing in the pool.
“I’m definitely not putting the pressure on myself like I used to. It’s definitely a healthy amount. That’s been the trick to me swimming well; being completely fearless, swimming how I used to swim when I was 16 and first cracked onto the national team.”
Despite the fact Titmus’ glittering list of accolades includes Olympic, world and Commonwealth titles, and now a world record, the Tasmanian still considers Ledecky the greatest female swimmer in history.
Ledecky has won seven Olympic gold medals and 15 world championship titles.
“I believe that Katie is the greatest female swimmer of all time. I can’t put myself up next to her with what she has done in swimming. It has been insane,” Titmus said.
“She has been at this level for 10 years. To even be in the conversation, I feel completely honoured.”
Sunday night also saw Shayna Jack unleash a 24.14 to win the 50m women’s freestyle final.
The Queenslander has had a remarkable comeback from a two-year anti-doping suspension.
“It was nerve-wracking coming back,” Jack said.
“I didn’t know if I’d fit in as well as I used to. But I love seeing everyone on pool deck, and coming away from this week I can stand even taller and be proud to wear those colours again.”
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