WEST Australian teenage freestyle star Tamsin Cook – the youngest athlete on the Australian swimming team – finished sixth in the final of the Olympic Games 400m freestyle in Rio de Janeiro this morning.
The 17-year-old former Hillarys high school student completed her maiden Olympic final in 4.05.30, with United States competitor Katie Ledecky breaking the world record to win gold in a time of 3.56.46.
Cook, who is the 400m freestyle junior world champion, swam a faster race to qualify, returning a personal best time of 4.04.36 to finish fourth in lane one in heat four.
The rising star shaved 1.81 seconds off her previous personal best of 4.06.17.
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Cook finished ahead of Australian teammate Jess Ashwood, who claimed bronze in the event at the world championships, in seventh.
Cook’s next event is the 800m freestyle scheduled for 12.50am (WST) Friday.