Titmus’ 3:56.90 Nearly Takes Down Ledecky’s 400 Free World Record

SWIMMING AUSTRALIA OLYMPIC TRIALS

Australia’s Ariarne Titmus produced another big statement swim, nearly knocking off American Olympic icon Katie Ledecky‘s World Record in the women’s 400m freestyle.

While racing on day 2 of the Australian Olympic Trials, 20-year-old Titmus scorched the field with a monster mark of 3:56.90, a time that sits just .44 outside of Ledecky’s 3:56.46 WR produced at the 2016 Olympic Games.

Titmus is a fierce competitor, trained by St. Peters Western’s dynamic coach Dean Boxall. Aside from domestic glory, Titmus’ major claim to fame was the fact she beat Ledecky in this 400m free at the 2019 FINA World Championships, becoming the first woman to get to the wall ahead of Ledecky in a distance event at a major international competition.

Entering this meet, Titmus’ lifetime best rested at 3:58.76, which is what it took to beat Ledecky in Gwangju. That performance ranked as the 8th fastest swim of all time, as well as the Australian and Oceanic Record. With her result here, however, Titmus’s 3:56.90 now ranks as the 2nd fastest performance ever with Tokyo just weeks away.

As a reminder, Titmus has been dealing with shoulder issues as of late, as we previewed heading into this meet. Titmus raced at the  Aussie National Championships this past April winning the women’s 200m free in 1:55.43, the 400m free in 4:01.34 and the 800m free in 8:23.13 in addition to placing 7th in the 100m free in 54.36. She was also set to compete at the Sydney Open last month but withdrew from her events.

Ledecky most recently raced at the Pro Swim Series in Mission Viejo, clocking a time of 3:59.25.

Post-race here, Titmus was all smiles and clearly emotional at the realization that she has become an Olympian. She has the 200m free and 800m free yet to swim at these Trials as well.

400m Freestyle Split Comparisons:

  • Ledecky’s 3:56.46
    • 57.05/1:00.06/1:00.51/58.84
  • Titmus’ 3:58.76
    • 57.12/1:00.60/1:00.73/1:00.31
  • Titmus’ 3:56.90
    • 57.31/1:00.18/1:0.28/59.13

Partial race video and top 3 finishers’ results below:

 

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ERVINFORTHEWIN
2 years ago

That was a close call on the WR ……..great racing there by Titmus , so emotional for making her first Olympic Team . The Battle will be fierce in Tokyo ….unless Ledecky launches a bomb at trials

swimfan210_
2 years ago

I think we’ve been kind of sleeping on her since 2019. She beat Ledecky, but after Ledecky was found to be sick we just assumed Ledecky was the favorite for the Olympics. She went 3:58.76 in 2019 at 18, and had a great improvement curve. (Ledecky was 3:58.37 at 17 and 3:59.13 at 18.) And now Titmus’ improvement curve is continuing, and she’s still on fire.

IM FAN
2 years ago

I was not expecting this because of all I had heard about her shoulders…

I’m loving having Aussie trials and US trials so close together. It feels like a revival of the old rivalry.

McKweon vs Smith

Titmus vs Ledecky

Chalmers vs Dressel

These olympics are going to be blazing

sven
Reply to  IM FAN
2 years ago

Yes, this setup is phenomenal, I love it. Realistically, the chances of America coming out on top for all of those match ups are slim, but picking the winner in each slot is a coin toss as long as Australia handles the double taper well. This is more uncharted territory for them but I think their coaches have planned for this.

He said what?
Reply to  sven
2 years ago

Agree.

Stephen Jon Loibl
Reply to  sven
2 years ago

How does America handle morning finals?

Max Hardie
Reply to  IM FAN
2 years ago

Americans are shocked, their for granted gold medals are now not that granted anymore. Chalmers will beat Dressel, Titmus Ledecky, McKweon Smith. The aussies have much better technique/style and swim with fewer strokes, more efficient.

Spectatorn
Reply to  Max Hardie
2 years ago

and surgeons for shoulder surgeries. Great to see how well Titmus and Chalmers are recovering and swimming.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Max Hardie
2 years ago

how can u state that while the Us swimmers have barely began trials ? an inflated Ego can only claim those statements . Thats all there is

Eric the eel > Phelps
Reply to  IM FAN
2 years ago

100m free darkhorse : Kliment Kolesnikov

Stephen Jon Loibl
Reply to  IM FAN
2 years ago

Careful…many other great swims not from Aus or US

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Stephen Jon Loibl
2 years ago

the Russians , Hungarians , dutch , British , etc…. Great battles between all those great swimming nations are in the book

Ol' Longhorn
2 years ago

Boxall’s swimmers left it all at Trials. Seen this movie before.

Torchbearer
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
2 years ago

Titmus is a big time performer though- 200/400/800m PBs a the last World Champs

Troyy
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
2 years ago

Titmus definitely left it at trials in 2019. Oh wait.

Last edited 2 years ago by Troyy
Joel
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
2 years ago

Sing a new song.

USAUSAUSA
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
2 years ago

Boo him all you want, ol longhorn is right.

There's no doubt that he's tightening up
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
2 years ago

Why would Titmus, a near lock to qualify for the team in her events, leave it all at Trials?

Texas Tap Water
2 years ago

YOZHIK? Are you ok?

please respond so we know you are ok. Worried about you.

Emg1986
Reply to  Texas Tap Water
2 years ago

Li… Bing….. Jie……..

That’sfast
2 years ago

Australia is swimming out of their mind holy moly

Drama King
Reply to  That’sfast
2 years ago

Women to be exact.

Wenton
Reply to  Drama King
2 years ago

Winnington!? Chalmers!? McLaughlin!? Niell!? Just to name a few, have all swum out of their minds. The men are insanely stacked in the freestyle events. Imagine if Australia could take two 4×200 men’s relays.

PK doesn’t like his long name
Reply to  Wenton
2 years ago

They would get like third and seventh?

Wenton
Reply to  PK doesn’t like his long name
2 years ago

7 swimmers that have been 1:45 or under in the past two years. The 8th being a 1:46. But they would get 3rd and 7th??

Drama King
Reply to  PK doesn’t like his long name
2 years ago

Nah. Those are more expected times except Brendon Smith’s swim.
Elijah will go as the favorite for 400 free. But still those womens performances are much better than men. I put Elijah’s performance at no 4 so far behind 100 back, 400 free and 100 fly women races.

Oceanian
2 years ago

Arnie: “I’ll be back”..

Swimfan
Reply to  Oceanian
2 years ago

Ledecky: “Bring it on Titmus, Bring it on” 😉😉😉

Robbos
Reply to  Swimfan
2 years ago

Did you watch the race, she has.

OldSwimmer
2 years ago

It will be fun to see an actual race in the 400 free in Tokyo, Titmus’ swim was excellent. But why mention Titmus’ shoulder issues and not the fact that Ledecky had a severe gastrointestinal illness during 2019 World Champs?

IM FAN
Reply to  OldSwimmer
2 years ago

The article was referencing Titmus facing set backs this season because of issues with her shoulders, which has caused her to miss competitions among other things. That has nothing to with Katie Ledecky’s struggles in Gwangju.

I hope both are healthy for an awesome showdown in not only the 400.

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