Article by James Cooney, courtesy of Daily Mail Australia.
Australia’s queen of the pool Ariarne Titmus has spoken about her surprising friendship with rival Katie Ledecky after facing the US all-time great head-on at the Paris Olympics.
Titmus, 23, had a busy swimming program in Paris but will return to Australia with her hands full of new medals having won gold in the 400m freestyle and women’s 4x200m freestyle relay, as well as silver in the 800m and 200m freestyle events.
The Aussie’s clashes with Ledecky in the pool were some of the biggest highlights of the Paris 2024 swimming events, with the pair doing battle in the 400m and 800m fly events.
While it was Titmus who bested the American for the 400m title, Ledecky came out on top in the 800m race.
When asked about her ‘rivalry’ with Ledecky, the Aussie said the pair were friends.
‘I get along really well with a lot of the Americans, I’m very friendly with Katie,’ she told Nova 96.9’s Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie show.
‘I would consider her a friend. We chat to each other before heats and finals. I’ve always said good luck to her before we race…my best friend at home is actually a massive Katie fan and before the medals of the 800m I got Katie to film, a little video to say hello to her.
‘So it’s totally not what it seems in the media. We just have such respect for each other, and even just, not just Katie and I, but you know, a few of the other American athletes I’m really friendly with and the entire team really, like, there’s not this rivalry that everyone speaks about.’
On Monday night, Titmus and other Team Australia athletes attended a lavish riboat party thrown by billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart on Paris’s famous River Seine.
‘Last night was definitely a different vibe to the first night Mrs. Rinehart [Gina] put on a cruise for all the medallists and it was just the perfect night we needed,’ said Titmus.
‘It was actually unbelievable. We had Mateo Bocelli perform for us, which is Andrea Bocelli’s son.
‘He was unbelievable. So as we we’re cruising past the Eiffel Tower, and it was all sparkling, he’s singing, like these most amazing opera songs… it was actually really emotional, to be honest!’
Titmus’s campaign included eight races in eight days, as well as plenty of hours training ahead of her events and she’s looking forward to a rest when she gets home.
‘I’m so proud of my efforts this week. Two gold, two silver,’ she said.
‘Couldn’t defend my 200m, but certainly happy that it was my training partner that won and to be second to her is great.
‘I’m just so happy with my weekend. I can’t wait for a big rest.’
