Aussie swim coach’s priceless reaction to Ariarne Titmus winning gold in the 400m freestyle melts hearts around the world
Ariarne Titmus‘ swim coach almost stole her thunder after she stormed home to win Olympic gold in the 400m freestyle.
Moments after the 20-year-old Australian delivered her US rival her first-ever loss in an Olympics final, the cameras panned to her coach Dean Boxall.
Dressed in a bright yellow shirt, Boxall ripped his face mask off and started bouncing around his box as a staff member tried to contain his celebration.
‘I mean he is going crazy. Oh my goodness. He’s like putting on a show like Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones or something,’ the commentator said.
Titmus had nothing but praise for her coach and his unique celebration after her incredible come-from-behind victory.
‘He means everything to me. Coming into this race we knew what we had to do.
‘We didn’t discuss what I wanted to do in the pool. It was more of a have fun moment. I love you. Have fun. We practised this for so long. I just knew what I had to do when I got out there.’
Spectators around the world were stunned by Boxall’s priceless reaction to the win.
‘Titmus’ coach Dean Boxall looked like every living room across the country. What a moment,’ tweeted one man.
‘Dean Boxall is my favorite Olympics moment thus far,’ added another.
‘The Dean Boxall moment was almost designed to go viral. I’d never heard of him before but pretty confident he’ll now never have to buy himself a beer ever again,’ wrote a third.
Titmus’ achievement is Australia’s second gold medal of the Tokyo Games, following the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay success.
And it delivers Ledecky, regarded as the greatest female swimmer ever, her first defeat in an Olympic final.
Titmus, in lane three, kept watch on Ledecky in lane four in what became the utimate match race between the pair.
The American held the lead for the initial 300m but Titmus was watching her all the way, literally lurking at her heels.
The young Australian ominously surged closer and was just 0.16 seconds behind Ledecky with 100m remaining.
Titmus then reeled in her rival in a perfectly-executed race plan to win by half a body-length in a time of three minutes 56.69 seconds.
Ledecky touched home in 3:57.36 and China’s Li Bingjie was well back in third position in 4:01.08.
Titmus and Ledecky will also square off in a much-hyped 200m freestyle battle, though the American is favoured to win their duel over 800m.
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