Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus toppled USA great Katie Ledecky in the 400m freestyle event to win a gold in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, on Monday. At the Tokyo Aquatics Center, the Australian touched the wall in 3 minutes and 56.69 seconds to take home the coveted yellow metal.
Ledecky, who is the current world record holder with a timing of 3:56.46 seconds, took home the silver medal after she clocked 3:57.36.
But Titmus’ victory was overshadowed by her coach’s reaction who hogged all the limelight. His reaction video has gone viral and shows how much it means to him and Australia to win an Olympic gold and displace Ledecky.
Watch the video here.
Ledecky had come to Japan on the back of winning four gold medals and a silver at Rio in 2016 but Titmus always remained close to her, ousting her as world champion in 2019 and topping the timesheets this season.
“I think I flipped at the 300, I saw she was there. I just wanted to give all I had, I fought tooth and nail,” said Ledecky.
“I can’t be disappointed with that, it was a good time from me, an awesome swim by her,” she added.
Titmus inched clear over the final 50m to touch in 3min 56.69sec after an absorbing encounter. Only world record holder Ledecky has ever gone quicker.
“I tried to stay as composed as I could and use the speed that I have,” said the Australian, whose win was celebrated wildly by her coach, who ripped off his mask and gesticulated.
“To pull it off in the backend against someone who has an amazing second half of her race, I’m really proud of that.”
Talking about her victory, Titmus said: “At the 200, I was a little bit worried, like I knew she would be there. No-one’s going to come to an Olympics, especially Katie Ledecky, unprepared.”
“So I guess I just had to trust myself. I tried to stay as composed as I could and use the speed that I have.
“To pull it off in the backend against someone who has an amazing second half of her race, I’m really proud of that.”