Australian swimming champion Ariarne Titmus has revealed she is related to Queen Mary of Denmark and that her cousin Mary and King Frederik will be poolside to watch her race in Paris.
Titmus, the reigning Olympic 200m and 400m freestyle champion, is a proud Tasmanian, as is Queen Mary, but that’s not the only thing they share.
“We are actually cousins in a distant and somewhat indirect way,” he revealed to Women’s Day.
‘One of Dad’s cousins is married to Mary’s cousin, which is quite funny considering the running joke that everyone born in Tasmania is related in some way.’
The royal couple will also be poolside in Paris when Titmus competes in the 400m freestyle final on July 28 in one of the first must-see events for Australians after Saturday morning’s opening ceremony.
“This has been in the works for months and everything had to be kept secret for security reasons,” said Titmus’ father, Steve.
‘The women’s 400m final is regarded as the race that will stop the nation, and to have a king and queen cheering on our Arnie… it doesn’t get any better than that.’
Titmus says she’s grateful for all the support, but won’t have much time to stick around and meet the royals after the race.
Ariarne Titmus (pictured) has revealed she is a distant cousin of Queen Mary of Denmark and joked that “everyone born in Tasmania is related in some way”
Queen Mary and King Frederick will be poolside to watch Titmus race in Paris, but Australia’s pool queen won’t be able to stay and chat to the royals.
“Mary might want to hang out after the race, so I hope she doesn’t mind if I leave and don’t stay to socialize,” he said.
“I have to rest for the next morning when I come back for the 200m freestyle heats. I think she will understand.”
Meanwhile, Titmus says she has never felt better prepared for any swimming competition just days before defending her Olympic titles.
“There’s not much room in your head for anything other than concentrating on the task at hand,” Titmus told reporters at the Australian swimming team’s camp in Chartres, about 95 kilometres southwest of Paris.
‘If you let outside noise in, you get off track.
‘In my case, I have a huge programme ahead of me and a lot of expectations placed on me, from myself and from the Australian public.
“And if I let outside factors get into my mind, it’s exhausting, so I really just think about swimming as fast as I can.”
Titmus’ double gold at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago came after limited preparation due to a shoulder injury.
Her road to Paris has been smooth, highlighted by the 200m freestyle world record broken at the Australian selection trials last month.
Titmus also holds the world record for the 400 metres, set at last year’s world championships.
The swimming champion says she has never felt better prepared for any competition just days before defending her Olympic titles.
“Mentally I’ve learned a lot from the last Olympics,” Titmus said.
‘I know this is going to be different with big crowds, which I’m really excited about.
‘As an athlete, and in general, I am in a better position than I was three years ago.
‘I’m honest in saying that I think I’ve prepared better than ever for a swimming competition.
‘More than anything, I’m excited to see what I can do.
‘Of course I’m running for our country, for the swim team, for myself and for my family.
‘But it’s about trying to get the best out of yourself, that’s why I keep swimming, because I think I have more in the tank.
“That’s my goal for these Games, to try to overcome every obstacle in my being.”
Titmus’ highly anticipated 400-meter race against American great Katie Ledecky and Canadian teenager Summer McIntosh will take place on the first day of competition at the Paris pool on July 27.