The Australian coach whose wild celebration at the Tokyo Olympics after his charge’s first gold medal has given a toned down showing after her second victory in the pool.
Dean Boxall became internationally famous when he wildly danced, pumped the air and shook a balustrade at the Olympic swimming venue after his protege Ariarne Titmus took gold in the 400m freestyle final on Monday.
Today he showed more restraint as Titmus won her second gold medal in the 200m freestyle.
But he still celebrated. Standing with other members of the Australian team, Boxall raced down the stands and uppercut the air with his right arm multiple times in a more muted celebration than his earlier one.
Dean Boxall celebrated as his protege Ariarne Titmus notches her second gold medal, winning the 200m freestyle at the Tokyo Olympics
Ariarne Titmus breaks down as she reunites with her coach, Dean Boxall, after she won her second gold medal in the women’s 200m freestyle at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre
Boxall’s celebration of Ariarne Titmus’ first gold medal in the 400m freestyle made him an international viral sensation
Titmus made it two from two against Katie Ledecky after winning her second gold medal in the 200m freestyle at the Tokyo Olympics.
The 20-year-old Australian, who was a strong favourite going into the final against America’s greatest ever female swimmer, produced another comprehensive swim to make it consecutive wins over the American legend.
It was Titmus’ second gold from two events so far, with the 4x200m medley relay and 800m freestyle still to go – where she will attempt to take two more golds from Ledecky.
Titmus, who was behind for about 150m of the race, produced another incredible final 50m to produce her second Olympic record of the meet.
Ledecky didn’t even medal, coming in way behind Titmus in fifth. Aussie Madison Wilson came eighth.
Boxall’s quieter celebration came as the Japanese venue official who unsuccessfully tried to stop his crazy celebration on Monday did an interview with Australian broadcaster Channel Seven.
The Japanese official who tried in vain to stop Boxall’s first celebration said she would make sure to hold him if he did it again
The young woman said she was unaware she’d become famous but promised to be ready for Boxall if he tried to break out of his area again.
‘Next time I’ll make sure I’m going to hold him,’ the woman said as she flexed her muscles.
The medal takes Australia’s gold tally to six, with four coming from Australia’s superstar swimmers and two more from the men and women’s rowing foursomes.
Titmus joins 20-year-old backstroker Kaylee McKeown and the women’s 4x100m relay team of Cate and Bronte Campbell, Meg Harris and Emma McKeon as the nation’s golden girls so far.
She joined swimming legends Shane Gould and Ian Thorpe as the only Australians to win the 200m and 400m double at an Olympic Games.
The 200m and 400m freestyle were Titmus’ strongest events, but she is expected to medal for her remaining two.
Ariarne Titmus poses with the gold medal afterthe presentation ceremony at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday
Ariarne Titmus has made it two from two against Katie Ledecky after winning her second gold medal in the 200m freestyle at the Tokyo Olympics
The 20-year-old Australian, who was a strong favourite going into the final against America’s greatest ever female swimmer, produced another comprehensive swim to make it consecutive wins over the American legend
Titmus’ opening 100m saw her outside of medal positions, but the Aussie is known for her lightning finishes.
She and Ledecky both trailed as they came into the second half of the race, with Titmus turning on the afterburners as she turned with one change to go.
The 20-year-old turned in another incredible final 50m to claim her second gold from two events.
Titmus, who was behind for about 150m of the race, produced another incredible final 50m to produce her second Olympic record of the meet
A beautiful embrace: Titmus was spotted hugging Boxall after the race while fist-bumping another coach
The swim comes after Titmus’ legendary swim in the 400m freestyle where she trailed Ledecky through 300-odd metres before producing a stunning final two laps to overtake the American legend.
Titmus, who was the overwhelming favourite for the event, stormed home to snatch gold from Ledecky and end her unrivalled Olympic dominance.
It was the opening battle between the pair who’s rivalry is set to define the Games.
American broadcaster NBC pre-empted Titmus’ success, quietly sending a camera crew out to Brisbane to follow the prodigy’s preparation for the Olympics.
They were aware of her reputation and threat to the USA legend, word that hadn’t spread as far as Ledecky’s teammate Lilly King who proclaimed the USA would win every single individual swimming event – echoing the arrogance of Sydney 2000 Olympics bad guy Gary Hall Jnr.
Hall Jnr famously said USA’s 4×100 relay team ‘would smash Australia like guitars’ before Ian Thorpe hunted him down to win gold for the Aussies, break a world record and the team celebrate poolside by playing air guitars.
King quickly retracted her words after she saw the trial form of the young Aussie team, saying ‘she wasn’t trying to start anything up.’
Titmus meanwhile was going about her work, despite constantly being disparaged by her arch-rival Ledecky who would only refer to the young Aussie as ‘she’ in interviews and said ‘you don’t win medals in trials’ when told of her form.
Golden girl: Titmus beams as she holds up her first gold medal after victory in the women’s 400m freestyle on Monday
The Tasmania-born star and her family uplifted their roots from the island state when she was just 14 and already a triple age champion, with her father Steve saying they had to move north to chase her Olympic dream.
‘Tasmania does not provide the structure for a swimmer who has reached Ariarne’s level and wants to explore their full potential,’ her dad said in 2015
‘This has been a very difficult and stressful decision for the whole family, because we love Tasmania and the people, but we have no choice. The decision is also not just based on Ariarne’s swimming, but long-term opportunities for the whole family.
‘The regrets in life are not what you did, but what you didn’t do and we want to give, not just Ariarne, but also her sister Mia, the best opportunities in life, not just in sport but for their future education and working careers.’
The move was a successful one, with Titmus adding gold in the 400, favourite for the 200 and to heavily contest for the 4x200m relay and 800m.