Australia’s 400m freestyle gold medallist Ariarne Titmus and United States rival Katie Ledecky will face off again Wednesday morning in the 200m freestyle final at the Olympic pool, while the Aussie men’s 4x200m are also racing for medals.
Titmus beat Ledecky in a stirring 400m and with the American tending towards the longer distances – she will also race the 1500m later on Wednesday’s session – the Australian is favoured to make it two from two in their personal battle. The pair are also set to face off in the 800m and the 4x200m relay.
While Titmu was fastest through to the final, Ledecky qualified third fastest.
Titmus is joined in the race by Madi Wilson, who qualified in eighth after Emma McKeon as Australia’s second entrant in the event. McKeon opted to concentrate on other races.
The Aussie men’s relay team qualified second fastest for their final behind Great Britain, with the United States third.
Australia clocked a time of 7:05.00 with the team of Mack Horton, Alexander Graham, Elijah Winnington and Zac Incerti and two will miss out to allow Tommy Neill and Kyle Chalmers to come into the team.
Full schedule, times AEST
11:30: Men’s 100m Freestyle Semifinals
11:41: Women’s 200m Freestyle Final
10:49: Men’s 200m Butterfly Final
10:57: Women’s 200m Butterfly Semifinals
11:21: Men’s 200m Breaststroke Semifinals
11:45: Women’s 200m Individual Medley Final
11:54: Women’s 1500m Freestyle Final
12:26: Men’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay Final
JGK
Roar Guru
Seriously? We could have won gold and silver in a relay!
Tony Harper
Editor
Just an update, that Throssell has told reporters Australia will have a whole new four swimmers tomorrow for the medal race with Titmus, McKeon Madi Wilson and Leah Neale therefore expected to come in.
Tony Harper
Editor
The US was second overall and China third. See everyone tomorrow. I've got some Olyroos to cheer on.
Tony Harper
Editor
Aussies eased up a bit and won in 7:44.61. O'Callaghan was impressive. Risk free performance - and Italy was disqualified.
Tony Harper
Editor
Tamsin Cook is given a big lead into the final leg. Australia will qualify comfortably, with questions to be asked about the make up of the final team.
Tony Harper
Editor
Australia's world record time is 7:41.50, set in 2019. On this viewing if it doesn't fall tonight it must be under threat when the two big guns return. Throssell pushing through.
Tony Harper
Editor
The Australians own the world record in this event and the B team is on that pace.
Tony Harper
Editor
And maybe not. She's had a blinding start as Australia leads comfortably through the opening leg. Meg Harris, 19, in now and she's pushing even further into the lead, now one and a half body lengths ahead of Canada.
Tony Harper
Editor
Mollie O'Callaghan, 17, from Queensland, leads us out. She was also excellent in the 4x100m heat but missed the final. The same will probably happen again.
Tony Harper
Editor
Mollie O'Callaghan, Meg harris, Briana Throssell and Tamsin Cook are our 4x200m team, with Titmus and McKeon to come in should we qualify. Which we should
Tony Harper
Editor
It's the 4x200m freestyle women's relay and the US wins heat one from China, Germany and France. We're in the second of two heats.
Tony Harper
Editor
Oh that's a shocker for Smith in the IM. Although he was second in his heat he has missed the semis, with that heat three being by far the slowest. Larkin is through though.
Tony Harper
Editor
Great news for Mitch larkin in his 200IM heat - he finished first.
Tony Harper
Editor
Recapping that earlier Emma McKeon broke an Olympic record in the heats of the 100m freestyle, having produced a blistering performance as Australia won gold in the 4x100m earlier in the meet. “That’s probably the easiest Olympic record I’ve seen, she’s not even puffing,” said Leisel Jones on Seven. McKeon is aiming at a record-tying seven medals in Tokyo, having already won two and being well-positioned to win two more in the 50 and 100m freestyle. Then her quest will be decided by up to three more relays - the 4x200m freestyle, 4x100m medley and mixed 4x100m medley.
Tony Harper
Editor
Aussie 400m IM bronze medallist Brendon Smith has finished second in his 200m IM heat and should be safely through to the semis.
Tony Harper
Editor
Jenna Strauch and Abbey Harkin competed in the 200m breaststroke with Harkin 7th in her heat. She missed the semis but Strauch, who was third, qualifed ninth for tomorrow's semis.
Tony Harper
Editor
Tony Harper
Editor
Aussie Tristan Hollard has made it through to the tomorrow's semis of the 200m backstroke, having finished 10th overall with 16 going through.
Tony Harper
Editor
Campbell has qualified fourth fastest through to the semis, which will be held on tomorrow morning's program.
Tony Harper
Editor
And not too shabby by Cate Campbell straight after either, winning her heat with 52.80.