Tasmania's Ariarne Titmus has rewritten the history books again, claiming gold in the 200m freestyle only two days after becoming the state's first individual gold medallist.
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The 20-year-old became the first Tasmanian to win multiple medals at one Olympic Games and became only the third Australian after Shane Gould and Ian Thorpe to win the 200m and 400m golden double at Olympic level.
"I don't think it [the enormity] will settle in until I get home and have a rest," Titmus said on Channel Seven post race.
"When you're in the situation you kind of have to compartmentalise everything and I think once I stop racing I will release everything."
Hockey players Daniel Sproule (two bronzes in 1996 and 2000), Matthew Wells (gold in 2004, bronze in 2008) and Eddie Ockenden (two bronzes in 2008 and '12) and rower Simon Burgess (two silvers in 2000 and 2004) had won two each at consecutive Games.
Swimming in lane four having qualified the fastest, Titmus made her move on lap three, turning in third before overcoming Hong Kong's Siobhan Haughey and Canada's Penny Oleksiak with Katie Ledecky finishing in fifth.
"I was trying to mow Siobhan down in the third 50 and I had no idea where she was on the last lap," Titmus said.
"I knew I had Katie covered but Siobhan was the person that was there ... I'm happy to get it done."
Titmus may also be in action on Wednesday evening with Australia in the second heat of the 4x200m freestyle relay at 9.27pm. The final will be on Thursday, July 29, at 11.30am.
At 8pm on Thursday evening Titmus will begin her fourth event, the 800m freestyle, with the final to follow on Saturday.
Tasmania has another shot at claiming a medal on Wednesday, with Hadspen cyclist Richie Porte taking part in the time trial after a gruelling road race earlier this week.
Josh Partridge
As a sports-mad fan who loves to remain challenged, sports journalism always seemed the path for me and it's allowed me to do things I never thought possible. A keen racquet sports player, I'm experienced in that field, allowing me to do my job at a strong standard.
As a sports-mad fan who loves to remain challenged, sports journalism always seemed the path for me and it's allowed me to do things I never thought possible. A keen racquet sports player, I'm experienced in that field, allowing me to do my job at a strong standard.
