Australia has won the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay final at the world swimming titles in South Korea on Thursday night in a world record time.

Ariarne Titmus, Madi Wilson, Brianna Throssell and Emma McKeon combined to claim victory in seven minutes, 41.50 seconds.

They held off the world and Olympic champions, the United States, by 0.37sec.

The time eclipsed China’s 2009 mark by 0.58sec.

It was Australia’s fourth gold medal of the meet.

World record holders Ariarne Titmus, Madison Wilson, Brianna Throssel and Emma McKeon savour the moment. Photo: Getty

Earlier, Australia’s Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers was relegated to 100m freestyle silver by American superstar Caeleb Dressel.

Dressel clocked 46.96sec – just 0.05sec off the world mark – to defend his world title.

It was the fastest time ever in a textile suit. Brazilian Cesar Cielo’s 2009 world record of 46.91sec was completed in a now-banned supersuit.

Chalmers took plenty of consolation as he claimed silver in a personal best 47.08sec, ranking him third in Australia’s all-time list.

“I gave it my absolute all tonight. I could’t really believe it (PB time) when I saw that and to see Caeleb go 46.9 is absolutely mind blowing,” Chalmers said.

“It is really positive for me leading into Tokyo (Olympics).”

Caeleb Dressel is congratulated by Kyle Chalmers after winning the men’s 100m freestyle final. Photo: Getty

Meanwhile, Matthew Wilson equalled the 200m breaststroke world record in the semi-finals on Thursday night.

He clocked two minutes, 06.67 seconds, equalling the 2017 world mark set by Japan’s Ippei Watanabe.

In the women’s 100m freestyle semi-finals, former world champion Cate Campbell cruised to be second-fastest qualifier for Friday’s medal race, with Emma McKeon third behind Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom.

“I think I have shown my swimming is maturing. It is good to be able to put together smart races. I haven’t left my brain at the starting blocks,” Campbell said.

Kaylee McKeown was fourth in the 50m backstroke final behind US winner Olivia Smoliga.

And Mitch Larkin faded to seventh in the 200m individual medley final, with Japan’s Daiya Seto claiming gold.

Larkin pulled out of the 200m backstroke to contest the 200mIM but is yet to decide which event he will prefer at the Tokyo Games.

He must choose one due to a clash on the Olympic program.

-AAP