“I didn't expect to go this fast. Swimming like this gives me good confidence. The goal is not to swim the best you can here, the goal is to book your ticket. I'm excited to see what I can do now in Paris.
“I was pretty fearless. At the end of the day, the trials are kind of free for me. I don't have to worry about going under a qualifying time. So if I take it, I have the luxury of that I would probably still be in the team. To be so close to my PB at the trials is really exciting.”
The reigning world record holder and Olympic champion believes she is in the best condition of her life and this was a result that certainly lends credence to that claim.
Titmus was the first female swimmer to officially make Australia's Olympic swimming team, with Lani Pallister booking her ticket to Paris just under seven seconds later in a time of 4:02.27.
Titmus trainer Dean Boxall chewed gum fiercely on the pool deck and grew more animated with each stroke in the dying moments of a world record distance.
Three years ago at these events, Titmus posted a time of 3:56.9 before her “monkey back” victory over Katie Ledecky at the Tokyo Olympics.
The emergence of Canadian teenager McIntosh added a third dimension to an already exciting race when the youngster broke Titmus' world record last year, but the Australian has re-established herself as the one to beat in Paris
Pallister has been desperate to break the magic four-minute mark for several years, but she can wait until her first Olympics. She aims to become the sixth woman in history to manage the feat, following Titmus, McIntosh, Ledecky, Federica Pellegrini and Erika Fairweather.
Lani Pallister after making her first Olympic team. Credit: Getty
Pallister joins his mother, Janelle, like another Olympian in the family. As she exited the pool, Pallister was greeted by her godmother, Dawn Fraser, for a celebratory hug.
“It's been huge,” Pallister said. “Three years ago… I didn't think I'd be here behind the blocks. So, yeah, going to my first Olympics, alongside Arnie, is going to be amazing. I'm just so grateful.”
Meanwhile, Winnington eliminated Short in the men's 400m freestyle to send another reminder that he means business.
Although the time of 3:43.26 was not very impressive (both swimmers have been much faster over the past 12 months), both were relieved to make the team, knowing that the only thing that matters is the which will happen in seven weeks.
“The goal of an Olympic Trials is obviously to make the Olympics, so that's the box ticked,” Winnington said. “I just tried to go out there and give it my all and see where I'm at, so it's good going into the Games.”
200 m combined women's individual
Less than two months after breaking Steph Rice's Australian record, Kaylee McKeown booked her place on a second Olympic team with an even faster time in her first event on the programme.
McKeown (2:06.63) finished well ahead of Ella Ramsay (2:09.32) and coincidentally fell another Australian record and cemented her position as the fastest in the world this year.
The 22-year-old is aiming to win three individual gold medals in Paris in the 200m individual medley, 100m backstroke and 200m backstroke.
“The Americans are up next week. I'm just going to put my best foot forward, and hopefully in Paris, my foot will be better,” McKeown told Channel 9.
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100m men's breaststroke
Sam Williamson overtook Zac Stubblety-Cook as Australia's top 100m breaststroker on a day when he cut more than four-tenths off his personal best. Her time of 58.8 bodes well for Australia's chances in the medley relay.
Joshua Yong snuck into second place and booked an inaugural Olympic berth by a hundredth of a second.
100 m female butterfly
Emma McKeon is off to another Olympics after her comfortable victory in the 100m butterfly.
After securing a bronze medal in Tokyo, McKeon secured his place in the team with a time of 56.85, ahead of Alex Perkins (57.33), who did not fall under the Swimming Australia qualifying time .
“The pressure is always there and the Olympic trials are crazy, so everyone is always going to be very nervous,” McKeon said. “I'm glad I got my first one out of the way.”
