Inside With Brett Hawke Podcast Offers Fascinating Interview With Double-Olympic Champ Ariarne Titmus
In the latest edition of the Inside With Brett Hawke Podcast, two-time Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus of Australia discussed a variety of topics following her superb performance at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. The episode was the 180th of the series created by Hawke, a two-time Olympian for Australia who has become one of the best interviewers in the sport.
At the Olympics, Titmus captured gold medals in the 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle, her title in the longer event delivered in come-from-behind fashion. Titmus trailed reigning champion Katie Ledecky at the 350-meter mark but surged down the last lap to prevail and post the second-fastest time in history, a mark of 3:56.69.
During her nearly one-hour discussion with Hawke, Titmus discussed her rivalry with Ledecky and the respect she possesses for the American. Ledecky raised the bar in the event by dipping well-below the four-minute barrier, and Titmus saw an opportunity to push herself, with the help of coach Dean Boxall, to that time realm.
In the wide-ranging interview, Hawke got Titmus to discuss her relationship with Boxall, the differences between competing at the Olympic Games and the World Championships and her goals in the sport. The pair also discussed several other topics.
In addition to claiming a pair of gold medals, Titmus also won the silver medal in the 800 freestyle and was the bronze medalist as a member of the Australian 800 freestyle relay. In the 800 free, which was won by Ledecky, Titmus became the No. 2 performer in history.
Good questions asked by Mr. Hawke. But I come away wondering what Ms. Titmus’ thoughts are about the recent public allegations by AUS veteran swimmers Madeline Groves, Emily Seebohm and others regarding abusive behavior by AUS swimming coaches/officials, and the “independent” all-female commission that has been established to review those allegations. Among those allegations have been those involving “weight-shaming” and weighing of female athletes by coaches. Does Ms. Titmus feel that in her own experience, observations, and anecdotally from other swimmers, that there is an issue regarding Australian female swimmers being weighed, experiencing eating disorders, or being asked to race underweight in order to increase their speed or their strength-to-weight ratios? Since some of these allegations (and those about “Hell Weeks” of training) have swirled around her coach and/or the SPW program, it seems a fair question to ask her (and also Coach Boxall and Rohan Taylor).