Ariarne Titmus continues to break new territory in Tasmanian swimming, becoming the state’s first world record holder in the pool.
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In claiming her second gold medal at the short-course world championships in Hangzhou, the Launceston teenager clocked 3:53.92 in the women’s 400-metre freestyle to defeat China’s Jianjiahe Wang (3:54.56) and claim her world record.
Titmus became only the fifth Australian to win the event at an Olympics or world championship joining Lorraine Crapp (1956), Shane Gould (1972), Tracey Wickham (1978) and Kylie Palmer (2008) and the third world record holder.
“I am a little bit in shock actually,” said the Queensland-based 18-year-old.
“I thought I had a chance, but I don’t really think about that type of thing I just wanted to do my race.”
‘‘I put in a lot of hard work since our trials five weeks ago and the turnaround I have had in that time is unbelievable. I dropped six seconds off my 400 and that shows what training hard can do,’’ she said.
‘‘I can’t believe it, and for it to be a short-course world record is something. I am someone who does not pride themselves on speed, but I will take it.’’