PARIS: On the bus ride from the Olympic village to the Paris La Defense Arena on Friday morning (AEST), relay swimmer Brianna Throssell was handed a monumental task — going head-to-head with US legend Katie Ledecky and Canadian teen ace Summer McIntosh.
A member of Australian relay teams for more than a decade, the 28-year-old Throssell found out on the way to the spectacular multi-purpose venue that leg three of the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay belonged to her.
A relay team featuring Mollie O’Callaghan, Lani Pallister, Throssell and Ariarne Titmus, who swam in that order, conquered the race and set a new Olympic record of seven minutes, 38.08 seconds (7:38.08). The US finished more than two seconds adrift in the silver medal position and China collected bronze.
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Throssell dived in 0.44 of a second ahead of the team placed second at the halfway point of the race, China, and although Ledecky stormed past her Chinese rival and threatened to steal the lead from Throssell, the Australian staved off the greatest female swimmer of all time to send Titmus on her way with a 0.33-second buffer.
The Australian women’s 4x200m freestyle swimmers celebrate winning gold. Getty
From that point on, there was no chance of the Australian team winning anything other than gold; none other than the 200m freestyle world record holder was powering down the pool.
When Throssell was asked in the media mixed zone how it felt to be matched with Ledecky and McIntosh, the West Australian’s face lit up.
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“Ho-ly!” she beamed.
“When I saw the sheets come out and I saw I had Summer and Katie, I was pretty nervous,” she added with a laugh.
“But I knew I just had to swim my race and just do the best that I can, and if they started to mow me down I would just try to hold on for dear life.
Brianna Throssell speaks to Nine after winning gold in the 4x200m freestyle. Getty
“I was breathing to Katie in that final 50m and I was just trying to hold her off, knowing that Arnie’s on the blocks and I just had to get my hand on the wall for Arnie.”
Ledecky, 27, is vying for her fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal in the 800m freestyle in Paris.
McIntosh, 17, won her first Olympic gold medal at these Games when she took out the 400m individual medley on Tuesday morning (AEST). Then on Friday morning (AEST), the prodigious talent won another gold medal in the 200m butterfly.
“It’s such an honour to race alongside these incredible, incredible athletes,” Throssell said.
“Katie is just unbelievable, and Summer, who’s already won a gold tonight — to race alongside them is actually just an honour.”
Throssell was still beaming with pride as she joined Nine’s Today desk about two hours after leaving the arena.
The 28-year-old confirmed this would be her last Olympics, and therefore Friday morning was her last Games race.
“It was going to be my last race ever at the Olympics, so to finish with an Olympic gold is everything I could have dreamed of,” she said.
“I’m 28. I’m not saying it is the end of my swimming career, but I won’t be going to LA.
“I know, and it is such an honour. Such an honour. But I know that I don’t want to be 32 and still swimming. I’m ready for the next chapter of my life.”
