Three weeks after watching her 400m freestyle world record vanish at the hands of Canadian Summer McIntosh, Ariarne Titmus has some bad news for swimming fans hoping the reigning Olympic gold medallist might respond at this week’s Australian Swimming Championships.
“I’ve had a bit of sickness, which has been tough trying to get over that,” Titmus said before her favoured 400m event on Wednesday evening at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre.
“[I’ve had] a bit of gastro and a cold. I’m just battling through. I don’t like to make excuses. We’re not at all targeting this meet. It’s more about seeing how you swim through the training.”
Titmus said there would be no miracles or statement swims this week. McIntosh’s fresh world record of three minutes, 56.08 seconds – well below Titmus’ lifetime best of 3:56.40 – should be safe, for now.
The 22-year-old hasn’t tapered for these championships either because she’s in the middle of a heavy training block. Fast times are purely a bonus.
Her 800m victory on Monday night was more than six seconds outside her personal best.
Ariarne Titmus after winning her 800m event at the Australian Swimming Championships on Monday. Credit: Getty
Titmus’ primary focus is the Australian trials in June, where swimmers will battle it out to make it onto the national team for the World Aquatics Championships in Japan.
McIntosh’s benchmark, three months out from the world championships, has been difficult for Titmus to take.
“Initially, it sucks,” Titmus said. “You break a world record and you are naive in thinking it’s going to stand for a while. World records are there to be broken. It means the world of swimming is moving forward.
Summer McIntosh will be one of Titmus’ main rivals in Paris. Credit: Funikta
“I want to get confidence out of my racing at this meet. I tend to now go into every swim without an expectation. I think I swim my best when I don’t set targets. It’s now setting a plan around what I want to do in that [400m freestyle] race. I would love to be under four minutes … but I’ll see how I go.”
No one will remember these championships when – all going to plan – Titmus, McIntosh and American legend Katie Ledecky compete for gold in the women’s 400m freestyle final on the opening night of competition at Paris 2024.
But Titmus lets her mind wander for a second, allowing herself to imagine what a showdown between three of the greatest swimmers of all time will be like.
At the 2004 Athens Olympics, Ian Thorpe won the “Race of the Century” in the men’s 200m freestyle, ahead of Pieter van den Hoogenband, Michael Phelps and Aussie teammate Grant Hackett.
The Titmus-McIntosh-Ledecky showdown may become the female “Race of the Century”.
“I feel very honoured that I’m a part of that,” Titmus said. “I never ever thought I’d be a part of something that will probably be part of swimming history. This is a bonus now. I’ve achieved everything I’ve wanted to achieve in my swimming career. My motivation now is what I can get out of myself. I truly believe I have more to offer the sport and I still love the sport and that’s why I’m swimming.
“At that point, it’s who can handle it on the day and everything surrounding the race. The Olympics is not really about how fast you’re swimming. It’s about who can get their hand on the wall first that day. You don’t tend to see many world records broken at Olympics compared to other meets because of the high stakes. It’s who can keep their head switched on in the important moments.
“It makes it more exciting for our event. I don’t think there’s ever been a race where there are three women swimming so fast at the same time. That’ll be very cool to watch.”
Titmus’ coach, Dean Boxall, is using McIntosh’s eye-catching time to keep his athlete focused.
“I think he likes it … he likes a new challenge,” Titmus said. “We’ve gone through the process before of being the underdog. I like that.”
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