Mollie O’Callaghan has pipped fellow Australian Ariarne Titmus to win the gold medal in the women’s 200m freestyle at the Paris Olympics.
O’Callaghan thwarted Titmus’ bid to become the only swimmer in Olympic history to successfully defend Olympic titles in both the 200m and 400m freestyles.
“It’s such an honour to … Arnie, she is an absolute gun,” O’Callaghan told the Nine Network.
“She races like an absolute beast and it’s an honour to train alongside her and have such a great team around us.
“That was an amazing race … I did it for the country, I didn’t do it for myself.”
The 20-year-old O’Callaghan clocked one minute 53.27 seconds in Monday night’s final at the Paris La Defense Arena with Titmus (1:53.81) taking the silver medal.
@wideworldofsports WE HAVE A NEW OLYMPIC CHAMPION!! 🥇 Mollie O'Callaghan has beaten Ariarne Titmus in the 200m Fresstyle, claiming gold in her first individual Olympic final. 💚💛 🖥 #Olympics #Paris2024 | Live and free on Channel 9 and 9Now #9WWOS ♬ original sound – Wide World of Sports
The victory is O’Callaghan’s first individual Olympic gold medal, adding to her three relay golds – two at the Tokyo Games three years ago and the 4x100m freestyle in Paris on Saturday night.
O’Callaghan was third with 50 metres remaining but powered to victory with a last lap some 0.66 seconds faster than Titmus, who made the last turn in second spot.
Her triumph delivers Australia a fifth gold medal at the Paris Games, including three at the pool.
Meanwhile, Australia’s defending women’s 100m backstroke champion Kaylee McKeown was the second-fastest qualifier through the semi-finals.
McKeown, seeking to repeat her golden 100-200m backstroke double at the Tokyo Games three years ago, clocked 57.99 seconds – just two hundredths of a second behind her chief rival, American Regan Smith.
The Dolphins’ 18-year-old Olympic debutant Iona Anderson (58.63, ranked fourth) will also feature in Tuesday night’s medal race.
Fellow Australian Ella Ramsey finished fifth in the women’s 400m individual medley final won by Canada’s Summer McIntosh.
And compatriot Max Giuliani was seventh in the men’s 200m freestyle final won by Romania’s David Popovici.
In Monday night’s other finals, which didn’t feature Australians, Italy’s Thomas Ceccon won the men’s 100m backstroke and Tatjana Smith from South Africa claimed the women’s 100m breaststroke gold medal.
