Ariarne Titmus became a national hero with her stunning win over Katie Ledecky but her coach overshadowed the Aussie superstar.
Katie Ledecky just got terminated.
Ariarne Titmus stunned the American superstar to win gold in the 400m freestyle on Monday, coming from behind in the final 50m in the best performance of her life.
The blockbuster showdown was billed as the hottest ticket in the pool in Tokyo and boy did it deliver. It’s the first time Ledecky, a five-time Olympic champion, has ever lost an individual event at a Games as Titmus now sits on the throne as the undisputed queen of middle distance swimming.
The Aussie superstar affectionately known as “Arnie” – hence the nickname Terminator after the Schwarzenegger movie – showed her win over Ledecky at the 2019 World Championships was no fluke, hitting the lead for the first time in the final lap as she stormed home to win by 0.67 seconds.
Nerves gave way to ecstasy in Australia but no one was partying harder than Titmus’ coach Dean Boxall. The young gun’s mentor went absolutely berserk in the stands as he looked like he lost control of his entire body.
Boxall grabbed his mask, punched the air, shook a fence and terrified the absolute bejesus out of a poor official who had no idea how to stop the rampaging Aussie from taking a tumble.
Social media went nuts over Boxall, who became an internet sensation as he made quite the impact on swimming fans in America and the rest of the world.
US-based sports/business writer Joe Pompliano tweeted: “Ariarne Titmus’ coach just had the best reaction of all time to her 400-metre freestyle gold medal win over Katie Ledecky.”
However, some didn’t appreciate Boxall attracting attention at the expense of Titmus.
American sports writer Lindsay Gibbs tweeted: “I can already foresee Titmus’ uncomfortably aggressive coach getting more media attention in the US than she does, and I am pre-emptively very very very annoyed by it!!”
US tennis great Pam Shriver added: “When the coach tried to be the show it’s (vomit emoji).”
Titmus was trying to keep her emotions in check because she still has the heats of the 200m to swim later on Monday night, but was obviously thrilled with her incredible victory.
“Oh my gosh. I can’t believe it,” Titmus said. “This past year I don’t know whether it’s gone fast or slow, but to get here was a relief. To come here and do the job. I’m over the moon.
“I thanked her. I wouldn’t be here without her. She set this incredible standard. All credit to her for the swimmer she is. I’ve been trying to chase her. Really exciting now we have this battle going. It’s really fun to race.
“The race, I tried to stay as composed as I could, then just tried to stick to my race plan. I can’t believe I pulled it off.”
Aussie swimming legends Ian Thorpe and Leisel Jones were in awe of the 20-year-old’s performance on the biggest stage of all, rocking a new Commonwealth and Australian record as she touched the wall in 3:56.69.
Thorpe described Titmus’ swim as “just phenomenal” in commentary for Channel 7.
“This is amazing … delivered when it counts,” he said. “At the Olympic Games, against the best female swimmer that the world has ever seen. What a performance.”
Jones added: “It was so impressive because the hardest thing at an Olympic Games is to step up and perform under an immense amount of pressure.
“Not only that, from someone else like Katie Ledecky, and to just go stroke for stroke and come down to the touch and win is so impressive.”
Boxall was in tears at the medal ceremony as he embraced Australia’s newest champion.
“It was actually hard to contain it (the emotion),” Titmus said. “I could see Dean on the other side bawling his eyes out. You don’t see that that often so that made me want to tear up.”
Ledecky surged ahead at the front as she tried to open up clean water between her and the rest of the field. After 200m the US phenomenon was a body length ahead but Titmus made her move in the back half of the race.
Accelerating into turns, she made up ground bit by bit and entered the final lap in front for the first time. Titmus surged ahead and never looked back.