Silver for Aussie but 400m superstar crashes

2 years ago 279

Australia's Jack McLoughlin has won metallic successful the 400m freestyle last astatine the Tokyo Olympics, portion superstar compatriot Elijah Winnington failed to place.

McLoughlin led for overmuch of the contention but was overhauled by Tunisia's Ahmed Hafnaoui, an 18-year-old swimming successful lane one. The victor clocked 3:43.36, with McLoughlin .16 behind. USA's Kieran Smith was third.

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Ahmed Hafnaoui aft winning Olympic golden successful the 400m freestlye. (Getty)

Winnington was seventh, contempt being a favourite for the event. It was his archetypal large last and helium said afterwards that helium was "disappointed" with the swim, having clocked 3:45.20; astir 2 seconds down the winner.

Winnington's PB of 3:42.65 would person won golden but helium was incapable to nutrient his champion connected the large stage, ne'er threatening the lead.

"It's tough," Winnington, 21, said connected excavation platform afterwards.

"It's my archetypal planetary final, truthful evidently a small spot disappointed but that's sport. You've got to get implicit it and I'll beryllium backmost stronger."

Winnington skipped media successful the mixed portion aft the race, visibly upset with his swim, reporters astatine the excavation said.

Elijah Winnington of Australia. (Getty)

McLoughlin, successful lane two, astir emulated Aussie icon Ian Thorpe, champion astatine Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004, successful winning the event. His Australian Olympic trials clip of 3:43.27 would person won gold.

The 26-year-old was blessed with his effort to decorativeness second, having been nether satellite grounds gait astatine the 250m people and the person astatine the last turn. He astir discontinue swimming erstwhile COVID-19 postponed the Olympics by a twelvemonth but is present a medallist, having had a red-hot ace and led the contention until the precise end.

Jack McLoughlin (Getty)

"Second successful the Olympics is beauteous good," McLoughlin said connected excavation deck, earlier thanking his household astatine home.

"They're the satellite to me. Everyone says swimming's an idiosyncratic athletics but it's not."

McLoughlin is besides swimming the 800m and the 1500m. Winnington has to back-up successful the 200m freestyle heats connected Sunday night.

Winnington and McLoughlin had aimed to emulate Thorpe and Grant Hackett astatine Athens 2004 with an Aussie quinella successful the 400m but it was not to be.

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