The Australian women’s 200m freestyle relay team have regained their title as the best on the planet after smashing the world record in a stunning effort at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Even though top-flight nations like China and the United States were not present, there was no questioning the dominant nature of their swim.
Ariarne Titmus claimed a personal world record in the anchor leg with a lightning-fast split of 1:52.82 seconds, with the overall world record shattered by the quartet of Titmus, Madi Wilson, Mollie O’Callaghan and Kiah Melverton.
The image that shows how dominant Titmus’ anchor leg was in the women’s 200m freestyle relay at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, leaving her Canadian rival in her wake
The effort from Titmus meant the team sliced more than a second off the previous world record of 7:40.33 set by China at last year’s Tokyo Olympics.
Amazingly, Australia accomplished the feat while resting record-setting freestyle swimmer Emma McKeon for the relay.
The win comes after a disappointing third place finish at last year’s Tokyo Olympics when the team were hot favourites to take the title.
Titmus was also missing due to Covid for the recent world championships, where the Australian team finished behind the United States to claim silver.
This time around, everything fell into place beautifully.
Wilson, O’Callaghan and Melverton cheer Titmus home (top left), the winners celebrate (top right) and stand on the podium with their gold medals after the world-record swim in the 200m freestyle relay in Birmingham
In a stunning admission, she said she felt ‘slow’ in her world-record swim.
‘I’m really happy to be able to perform for the girls,’ Titmus said afterwards.
‘I mean, in the past couple of relays I have done I feel like I haven’t really performed my role as well as would have liked.
‘I was disappointed last year at the Olympics, so I’m glad that I could do my job for the team.’
‘I actually felt like I was going a bit slow on the way back. I’m passing the other girls. I felt a bit of a wash and I didn’t really know how fast I was going. But the crowd definitely helped.’
After the midway point of the Birmingham meet, Australia’s swim team have 11 golds, nine silver and 12 bronze.
McKeon has been the spearhead of the team and went from greatness to legend in Birmingham on Sunday night, capturing her 11th overall Commonwealth Games gold medal – a record no other athlete has ever achieved.
Titmus praised McKeon for her efforts in the pool and around the team, dubbing her the ‘smiling assassin’.
‘She’s probably the most humble athlete around,’ Titmus said.
‘She’s so understated and just goes about her business … she’s a silent assassin, she goes out there and does her job.’
McKeon’s efforts in Birmingham mean she has eclipsed the previous record for most Commonwealth golds – 10 – set by Australian swimmers Susie O’Neill, Ian Thorpe and Leisel Jones.
‘It’s really nice to be mentioned alongside some of those names and I will be part of that history for years to come, hopefully,’ McKeon said.
McKeon has now won 11 Commonwealth Games gold medals, putting her ahead of legends of the sport including Susie O’Neill, Ian Thorpe and Leisel Jones
Zac Stubblety-Cook (men’s 100m breaststroke), Meg Harris (women’s 50m freestyle) Jenna Strauch (women’s 200m breaststroke) and Tim Hodge (men’s 100m breaststroke S8) secured silvers.
Shayna Jack (women’s 50m freestyle), Blake Cochrane (men’s 100m breaststroke S8) and Sam Williamson (men’s 100m breaststroke) bagged bronzes.
And Kyle Chalmers, after saying in the morning he felt like flying home amid controversy over the romance between teammates Cody Simpson and McKeon, figuratively flew home in the men’s 100m semi-finals.
McKeon celebrates after winning gold in the women’s 50m freestyle final with bronze medalist, Shayna Jack at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games at Sandwell Aquatics Centre
After blasting false reporting of a supposed love triangle involving his ex-partner McKeon and her new flame Cody Simpson, Chalmers clocked the second-fastest 100m free time this year to be quickest into Monday’s final.
Like Chalmers, McKeon also shut out the media storm in an Australian sweep in her milestone medal race with Harris and Jack.
‘It is special,’ McKeon said.
‘It makes me reflect on the last eight years since my first Commonwealth Games.
‘I can see how far I’ve come as a person and an athlete.’