Ariarne Titmus celebrates after edging out Katie Ledecky in the women's 400m freestyle final ©Getty Images

Australia’s Ariarne Titmus came from behind to snatch victory from five-time Olympic champion Katie Ledecky in an epic women’s 400 metres freestyle final, while Britain’s Adam Peaty retained his men’s 100m breaststroke title on a thrilling morning of swimming finals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics here today.

Gold medals were also won by Canada’s Maggie MacNeil in the women’s 100m butterfly and the United States in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay here on the third day of competition here.

The race of the day came in the women’s 400m freestyle with Titmus recording the second fastest time in history with 3min 56.69sec to edge out world record holder Ledecky of the United States.

Ledecky looked in a strong position to retain her crown as she led at the halfway point only for Titmus to claw her way back.

Titmus edged ahead for the first time in the race with 50m remaining before holding off Ledecky in the closing stages to clinch gold.

Ledecky came home in 3:57.36, while Bingjie Li of China captured bronze in 4:01.08 ahead of 14-year-old Summer McIntoch of Canada, who clocked 4:02.42 for fourth place.

Titmus’ victory came after Peaty underlined his men's 100m breaststroke dominance by winning gold in the fifth quickest of all-time.

Adam Peaty celebrates after securing Britain's first Olympic gold medal at Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images
Adam Peaty celebrates after securing Britain's first Olympic gold medal at Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images

Coming into the event, Peaty had already produced the best five times in history and there was no stopping him today as he powered to victory in 57.37 and secured Britain’s first gold medal of this year’s Games.

Arno Kamminga of The Netherlands claimed the silver medal in 58.00 with Nicolo Martinenghi of Italy coming third in 58.33.

Earlier, MacNeil secured women’s 100m butterfly gold from lane seven, winning in 55.59.

It was the 20-year-old’s second medal of this year’s Olympics having earned silver in the 4x100m freestyle yesterday.

Yufei Zhang of China touched the wall second in 55.64, with Emma McKeon of Australia bagging bronze in 55.72.

Torri Huske of the United States agonisingly misses out on a medal, finishing in 55.73.

Canada's Maggie Manceil shows off her Olympic gold medal she won in the 100m butterfly ©Getty Images
Canada's Maggie Manceil shows off her Olympic gold medal she won in the 100m butterfly ©Getty Images

The day was capped off by the US, who produced the third fastest men’s 4x100m relay of all-time as they clinched gold in 3.08.97.

Caleb Dressel put the American team out in front after a stunning first leg before Blake Pieroni and Bowen Becker kept them in front.

It was then left to Zach Apple to bring the US team home as he comfortably held off Manuel Frigo of Italy to clinch victory.

The Italian team had to settle for silver in 3.10.11, with Australia finishing third in 3.10.22.

Tomorrow is set to see medals decided in the men’s 200m freestyle, women’s 100m breaststroke, men’s 100m backstroke and women’s 100m backstroke.