- Titmus suffered a surprise defeat in the first round
- Ledecky swept the final lap
- The Australian is not worried about the results of the series, he is focused on the final
Ariarne Titmus isn’t sure what American swimming legend Katie Ledecky is after, as she tasted success in her entry into a main event at the Paris Olympics.
And the Australian ace doesn’t care much either after competing with Ledecky in a heat of the women’s 400m freestyle on Saturday morning.
Titmus led for 350 meters before Ledecky put in a final fast lap to finish first and secure lane four for Saturday night’s promoted final.
Was the American sending a message to Titmus?
—Maybe. I don’t know, said Titmus.
‘I don’t try to pay too much attention to the heat swim sessions.
“But she has lane four, I have lane five, it doesn’t really matter.
Now it all comes down to who can do it tonight.
Ariarne Titmus reacts after losing her heat to archrival Katie Ledecky at the Paris Olympics
Ledecky clocked a time of four minutes and 02.19 seconds, followed by Titmus with a time of 4:02.46.
Canadian teenager Summer McIntosh (4:02.65) swam in a different heat and was fourth fastest in the medal race, while Australia’s Jamie Perkins (4:03.30, fifth in the standings) also advanced.
While Titmus was unsure of Ledecky’s message, Australia’s dominant women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team sent an ominous signal to its heat rivals.
World record holders Australia, seeking a fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal in the event, rested top guns Mollie O’Callaghan and Shayna Jack.
The Dolphins fielded Games newcomer Olivia Wunsch, four-time Olympian Bronte Campbell, Meg Harris and Emma McKeon and comfortably cleared qualifying times in 3:31.57, ahead of the United States (3:33.29).
Kyle Chalmers, second from left, had a strong swim in the men’s 4x100m freestyle.
In the equivalent men’s relay, Jack Cartwright, William Yang, Flynn Southam and Kyle Chalmers of Australia won their heat that included gold medal favorites the United States.
Australia (3:12.25) advanced to the final with the second fastest time behind China (3:11.62).
Ahead of the relay heats, Australia’s most successful Olympian, McKeon, easily advanced to the semi-finals of the women’s 100m butterfly.