- Titmus suffered shocking defeat in opening series
- Ledecky stormed home on the final lap
- Australians not worried about heat results, but focus on final
Ariarne Titmus is unsure of the motive of American swimming legend Katie Ledecky, who enjoyed success during her entrance to a main event at the Paris Olympics.
And the Australian athlete doesn’t seem to mind much after competing against Ledecky in the women’s 400m freestyle on Saturday morning.
Titmus led for 350 meters before Ledecky put in a fast final lap to finish first, securing lane four for Saturday night’s highly anticipated final.
Did the American send Titmus a message?
“Maybe. I don’t know,” said Titmus.
‘I try not to look too much into heat swimming.
‘But she has job four, I have job five, it doesn’t matter that much.
‘Now it’s about who can do it tonight.’
Ariarne Titmus reacts after losing her heat to arch-rival Katie Ledecky at the Paris Olympics
Ledecky clocked a time of 4:02.19 seconds, followed by Titmus with a time of 4:02.46.
Canadian teenager Summer McIntosh (4:02.65) swam in another heat and was fourth fastest in the medal race, while Australian Jamie Perkins (4:03.30, fifth) also advanced.
While Titmus was unsure of Ledecky’s message, the dominant Australian women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team sent an ominous signal to their rivals in their heat.
Australia, world record holders and chasing a fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal in the event, rested its top guns Mollie O’Callaghan and Shayna Jack.
The Dolphins fielded Olivia Wunsch, four-time Olympian Bronte Campbell, Meg Harris and Emma McKeon and posted a solid time of 3:31.57, beating the United States (3:33.29).
Kyle Chalmers, second from left, put in a great performance in the men’s 4x100m freestyle
In the men’s relay, Australians Jack Cartwright, William Yang, Flynn Southam and Kyle Chalmers won their heat, which also included the gold medal favourites from the USA.
Australia (3:12.25) reached the final with the second-fastest time, behind China (3:11.62).
Before the relay round, Australia’s most successful Olympian McKeon effortlessly reached the semi-finals of the women’s 100m butterfly.
