Ariarne Titmus breaks 200m freestyle world record in ominous

Australian edges Mollie O’Callaghan at trials in BrisbaneTime of 1:52.23 betters O’Callaghan’s previous benchmark

Ariarne Titmus says breaking the 200m freestyle world record is a bonus from her unparalleled duel in the pool with compatriot Mollie O’Callaghan. Titmus took the record from O’Callaghan in a stunning battle on Wednesday night at Australia’s Olympic swimming selection trials in Brisbane.

The 23-year-old clocked one minute 52.23 seconds, bettering O’Callaghan’s benchmark of 1:52.85 set at last year’s world championships. O’Callaghan also eclipsed her previous mark, finishing in 1:52.48 – the second-fastest time in history.