'Exhausted' Titmus pays tribute to Phelps

Ariarne Titmus has gained different level of respect for the legendary Michael Phelps arsenic a brutal swimming docket takes its toll.

Australia's caller swimming sensation, Titmus finished 2nd successful her 800m freestyle vigor contiguous with a clip of 8:18.99 to suffice for Saturday's last against Katie Ledecky.

The Tokyo treble golden medallist besides claimed bronze successful the 4x200m freestyle relay today and admitted a dense docket was starting to instrumentality a toll.

"I knew I wanted to beryllium nether the 8:20 people to beryllium safe," Titmus said.

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Ariarne Titmus of Australia competes successful vigor 3 of the 800m freestyle. (Getty)

"It's a large time today. I lone had 1 and a fractional hours successful my edifice room. I'm perfectly buggered. I volition aquatics down rapidly and get home.

"This is astir apt my toughest back-up and... a truly heavy field. I knew I had to beryllium pugnacious and aquatics a coagulated aquatics to get through...

"Honestly, I'm exhausted. I support reasoning backmost to Beijing, it was the aforesaid arsenic this morning's heats. (Michael) Phelps won 8 gold. I person done 2 and I'm wrecked. It puts into position for maine however astonishing helium was. I'm going to remainder up arsenic overmuch arsenic I tin and get acceptable for my past contention astatine the Olympics."

Emma McKeon and Ariarne Titmus. (Getty)

The Tasmanian agreed it was a alleviation to not person to aquatics successful large rival Katie Ledecky's vigor contiguous - but had been thriving connected the aggravated competition.

"Definitely. I emotion racing Katie but it is bully to beryllium connected my ain a small bit. It's been truly bully this week. We've been getting on truly well. We've truly enjoyed racing each other. I mean, we don't get to bash it often. It's truthful amusive for america to beryllium capable to race. So, I americium looking guardant to 2 days' time."

Ledecky won her vigor successful 8:15.67s portion Aussie Kiah Melverton besides qualified for the last connected Saturday greeting (AEST).

Katie Ledecky of the United States. (Getty)

Meanwhile, Kaylee McKeown acceptable the fastest clip successful qualifying for the semi-finals of the 200m backstroke.

McKeown sizzled for a 2.08:18 successful the last vigor portion Emily Seebohm besides went done equal-eighth fastest.

And Australia qualified 4th fastest for the last of the historical 4x100m medley relay successful Tokyo.

The squad of Zac Stubblety-Cook, Bronte Campbell, Isaac Cooper and Brianna Throssell finished 2nd successful their vigor down China with a clip of 3:42.35.

Great Britain, the USA and China were the fastest qualifiers.

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