MONDAY JULY 22
Ariarne Titmus has become the first Australian woman to claim the world 400 metre title since Tracey Wickham in 1978, pulling off a boilover victory that snapped Ledecky’s staggering winning streak.
On the opening night of the eight-day world titles in Gwangju, South Korea, Titmus clocked a Commonwealth record of 3:58.76 on Sunday to upstage the once unbeatable Ledecky.
Ledecky finished second in 3:59.97, well off her world record of 3:56.46 set at the Rio Olympics.
American Leah Smith received bronZe in 4:01.29.
Titmus’s coach Dean Boxall still found faults with her impressive swim.
“I think she could have executed it a little bit better. It was a good swim, of course… But it could have been better,” he said.
“I thought she nearly missed an opportunity there.”
However, Titmus was confident she had done enough for Ledecky to take her seriously as a threat ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“Katie is a true champion. To do something like this, I suppose every girl who does middle distance freestyle dreams of doing,” she said.
“But next year is the Olympics and I am sure she will be back next year in her best form.”
####
Australian swimmer Mack Horton has refused to share a podium with Sun Yang after the 400m final at the world championships, signalling that his feud is as bitter as ever.
Horton finished second as Sun claimed a record fourth-consecutive 400m freestyle final in South Korea, but refused to stand next to him at the medal presentation.
The Australian also refused to pose for photos with his rival, who was suspended for doping in 2014, but happily posed with Italian bronze medallist Gabriele Detti.
Horton was asked what his overriding emotion was and he responded: “Frustration. I think you know in what respect.”
“I don’t think I need to say anything.”
“His actions and how it has been handled speaks louder than anything I could say.”
Sun is currently facing allegations of doping rule violations that could result in a ban from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and has requested a public trial at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in September to defend himself.
The World Anti-Doping Agency is challenging a decision by FINA, swimming’s world governing body, merely to warn him over incidents during a doping control team’s attempts to take blood and urine samples at his home in China last September, while allowing him to continue competing.
Sun stated: “I am aware of the rumours that have been going around, but I try to just concentrate on my swimming and I will keep trying to put a lot of effort in my swimming.”
After the race, Horton called Sun a “drug cheat” for his three-month doping suspension in 2014.
Horton’s refusal to take podium caught the eye of some of his former and current teammates.
“Absolutely awesome to see Mack Horton protesting clean sport by not getting up on the podium next to Sun Yang #cleansport,” tweeted David Mckeon, who swam the 4x200m relay with Horton in Rio.
####
A man is under police guard in hospital after a woman’s body was found in a car in Adelaide’s west.
Police had been desperately searching for the woman and man after concerns for their welfare were raised late last night.
Just after 11:30pm the search came to an end, when the pair was found in a car parked on Kidman Avenue at Kidman Park.
The woman was dead and the man had a serious stomach injury.
He was arrested and rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital where he is in a serious condition under police guard.
Senior Constable Matt Brown said the incident was not considered random and the two people knew each other.
“Police investigators are treating the woman’s death as suspicious,” he said.
Neighbour Mihel Shuli said he was woken by the noise of smashing glass.
“It was scary. It was very loud, “ he said.
SheSociety is a site for the women of Australia to share our stories, our experiences, shared learnings and opportunities to connect.
Leave a Reply