Australia won the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay at the Olympics and joined Ariarne Titmus as gold medal winners at the Paris Games.
The freestyle relay team of Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, Emma McKeon and Meg Harris claimed Australia’s fourth consecutive Olympic title in the event.
Titmus followed up her triumph in the women’s 400m freestyle by clocking an Olympic record time of three minutes and 28.92 seconds to beat the United States and China.
Just half an hour before the relay final, Titmus turned the swim of the century into a personal golden procession to defend his Olympic 400m freestyle title.
The Tasmanian swimmer is only the second Australian swimmer to successfully defend an Olympic crown.
The legendary Dawn Fraser, who was watching the event from the stands at Paris’ Arena La Defense on Saturday night, won gold in the 100m freestyle at the 1956, 1960 and 1964 Games.
“I really can’t believe it’s me,” Titmus said of joining Fraser.
In her much-hyped final, Titmus swept aside her rivals, American legend Katie Ledecky and Canadian teenager Summer McIntosh.
Australia’s Shayna Jack (front) hugs Mollie O’Callaghan as Emma McKeon (right) joins in the celebrations after her victory secured the country’s fourth consecutive Olympic title in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay.
The women set an Olympic record by leading the race from start to finish early Sunday morning Australian time.
The 23-year-old led from start to finish to claim her third career Olympic gold medal, following her double in the 200m and 400m freestyle at the Tokyo Games three years ago.
“I’m screwed,” she said.
“But I’m relieved. It’s a different feeling to win it again after the first time.
‘I know what it takes to be an Olympic champion and I know how difficult it is to compete in these circumstances at the Olympic Games.
“It’s like nothing else, the noise, the atmosphere and the pressure.”
The Tasmanian-born ace clocked 3:57.49 seconds to beat McIntosh (3:58.37) and Ledecky (4:00.86).
The trio has held the world record in the event for the past three years.
But Titmus, the current holder of the benchmark, never looked in danger of losing even though 17-year-old McIntosh mounted the biggest challenge.
When Ledecky lost her rhythm early on, the Canadian tried to keep pace with Titmus, but the final margin between them (0.88 seconds) reflected the Australian’s dominance.
Titmus’ Australian compatriot Jamie Perkins (4:04.96) finished last.
Titmus, the world record holder in the 200 and 400-meter freestyle, will now focus on maintaining her Olympic crown in the shorter distance.
The qualifying rounds and semi-finals of that event will be held on Sunday before the final on Monday.
Titmus’ triumph followed fellow Australian Elijah Winnington’s silver medal in the men’s 400m freestyle, although his pre-race teammate Sam Short finished fourth.
Germany’s Lukas Maertens (3:41.78) took the gold medal, touching the wall some 0.43 seconds ahead of Winnington.
