Ariarne Titmus remains on course to defend both her Olympic titles after qualifying fastest for the 200-metre freestyle final.
Fresh from her opening-night 400m gold medal, the Launceston-born, Brisbane-based 23-year-old won her 200m semi-final in Paris.
Looking to become the first woman to defend an Olympic 200m title, the world record holder recorded an Australian one-two with reigning world champion and St Peters clubmate Mollie O’Callaghan.
Second at 50m, Titmus was 0.58 seconds in front at the halfway point and 0.30 up at the final turn before clocking 1:54.64 to win by 0.06.
O’Callaghan recorded 1:54.70 with Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey third in 1:55.51.
“The 200 is a tricky one where I’m coming off the 400 and a lot of the girls are coming up from the 100 so they’ve got a lot more speed than me,” Titmus said. “So I’ve just got to go out and hold on. It’s tough but I’ve got to play to my strengths and it’s been working lately.”
Titmus had finished second in her heat, 0.02 seconds behind Canadian Mary-Sophie Harvey, and will contest the final at 5.48am on Tuesday (Tasmanian time).
“It’s going to be a tough race for sure but it’ll be good to see what I’m capable of. I’m just really keen to get out there and have another crack.”
Claiming gold medals at successive Olympic Games prompted Titmus to reflect on how far she has come since taking up swimming in Launceston.
“I can’t really believe that’s me, to be honest,” she said after defending her 400m freestyle title.
“I’m so normal, I just love swimming and getting out and representing my country and having fun.
“I hope nobody looks at me any differently - I’m just the same old goofy Tassie girl out here living out her dream. I hope it shows that anyone can do what they want to do if they work hard and believe in themselves."
“Here I am, I’m from little old Launnie and out here living the dream. I hope it inspires young kids.”
The former Riverside and Launceston Aquatic Club member said the full houses at La Defense Arena were unprecedented in her swimming career.
“The crowd’s firing. I’ve never known a packed house for a heat.
“You have to use everything around you and crowds like this get the best out of you. It’s not often you get to swim in front of a crowd this big, this is probably the biggest crowd I’ve seen at a swim meet so I’m really excited and you have to use that to your advantage.
“This is what you dream of and what you train to do.
“I know what it takes to be an Olympic champion and I know how hard it is racing in these circumstances at an Olympic Games. It’s not really like anything else. The noise and atmosphere and pressure and village life makes performing hard, but I’m very happy to come out on top.”
Max Giuliani made a winning start to his Olympic career, storming to victory in his 200m freestyle heat.
Racing in lane five in the second of four heats, the 21-year-old came from way back to be second at the last turn and produced a trademark fast finish to win in 1:46.15, 0.04 ahead of Britain’s reigning world champion Matt Richards (1:46.19) with Japan’s Katsuhiro Matsumoto (1:46.23).
Giuliani qualified fifth fastest and swam from lane three in the second semi-final alongside compatriot Tom Neill.
The Tasmanian produced a similar performance in the semi-final, emerging from the chasing pack to be third at the final turn. He held that place through the last 50m, improving on his heat time with 1:45.37, 0.84 behind Romanian winner David Popovici (1:44.53) with Brit Duncan Scott (1:44.94) second.
Giuliani again progressed as the fifth fastest and will race the final at 4.40am on Tuesday.
Swapping Hobart Aquatic Club for the Miami Swimming Club when he moved to Queensland in 2022, Giuliani claimed World Cup medals in Hungary, Greece and Germany before announcing himself by qualifying for Paris with 200m victory at this year’s Australian Olympic trials in Brisbane.
Hobart’s Maddison Brooks played her part as the Hockeyroos opened their Paris campaign with a 2-1 win over South Africa.
Initially named as a travelling reserve, the 19-year-old OHA midfielder was called up to the squad after Alice Arnott withdrew with calf soreness.
Kayla de Waal gave South Africa the lead just before the first break but Grace Stewart’s 62nd international goal soon had the scores level. Tatum Stewart hit the winner from a penalty corner in the third quarter.
The Hockeyroos also face Great Britain, USA, Argentina and Spain in Pool B.
Brooks has had a stellar rise with the national team, playing 33 internationals since making her debut in 2023.
Huon rower Sarah Hawe begins her second Olympic campaign in the heats of the women’s eights at 8pm on Monday evening.
The Australian crew has been drawn in the first of two heats with Canada, Great Britain and Denmark.
Only first place will secure a direct place in Saturday’s A-final at the Vaires-sur-Marnes Nautical Stadium, east of Paris.
A two-time world champion in the women’s four, 37-year-old Hawe was also part of the Aussie eight crew which finished fifth in the Tokyo Olympic final.