:no_upscale())
Erika Fairweather swam bravely, as always, but was unable to make an impression in the women’s 200m freestyle final.
Fairweather, who finished fourth in the 400m freestyle final two days ago, was the seventh fastest qualifier for the 200m final and swam in lane 1.
The Dunedin swimmer was in top form and her time of 1min 55.59s for seventh place was nearly a second faster than what she recorded in the semi-finals.
However, two Australians dominated the race and Mollie O’Callaghan won the gold medal in 1min 53.27s, decisively beating countrywoman and favourite Ariarne Titmus, who was second in 1min 53.81s.
Women’s freestyle swimming is going through a golden era at present and it is a tribute to Fairweather that against such outstanding opposition, she has been able to make two Olympic finals, for fourth and seventh places.