<\/p>\n
True to form, Titmus terminated Haughey's lead in a thrilling final lap. She won by 0.42.<\/p>\n
"I was trying to mow Siobhan down in the third 50 and I had no idea where she was on the last lap," Titmus said on pool deck afterwards.<\/p>\n
"I had Katie covered but Siobhan was the person that was there. I felt it at the end, my legs started to go a little bit but I was happy to get it done."<\/p>\n
Titmus, 20, had already won the 400m freestyle over Ledecky in an instantly iconic swim for Australia. She has now emulated Aussie legend Ian Thorpe at Athens 2004 with the 200-400 golden double, plus women's icon Shane Gould at Munich 1972.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
"I don't think it will settle in until I get home and have a rest," Titmus said.<\/p>\n
"When you're in this situation, you kind of have to compartmentalise everything. I think once I stop racing, I'll kind of release everything.<\/p>\n
"On to the (4x200m) relay now and the 800. I don't want to ruin the rest of my meet by celebrating too hard but I'm very proud of what I've achieved."<\/p>\n
Titmus was told that she had already been honoured back home with an Australian Post stamp, showing her with her 400m gold medal.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
She said that she was happy to provide some joy for the millions of people under lockdown in Australia.<\/p>\n
"It's really sad but I'm happy that the Olympics are here and we can hopefully bring some excitement to loungerooms," she said.<\/p>\n
"I feel so fortunate to be here, to be able to do what I love. I'm just from a small town in Tassie and this goes to show that if you believe you can do something, you can 100 per cent do it if you work for it."<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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