{"id":594684,"date":"2024-08-03T16:49:10","date_gmt":"2024-08-03T23:49:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=594684"},"modified":"2024-08-04T02:28:41","modified_gmt":"2024-08-04T09:28:41","slug":"paris-olympics-head-to-head-for-olympic-gold-and-then-ariarne-titmus-delivers-heart-warming-tribute-to-katie-ledecky","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/paris-olympics-head-to-head-for-olympic-gold-and-then-ariarne-titmus-delivers-heart-warming-tribute-to-katie-ledecky\/","title":{"rendered":"Paris Olympics: Head-To-Head For Olympic Gold and Then Ariarne Titmus Delivers Heartwarming Tribute To Katie Ledecky"},"content":{"rendered":"

Paris Olympics: Head-To-Head For Olympic Gold And Then Ariarne Titmus Delivers Heart Warming Tribute To Katie Ledecky<\/strong><\/p>\n

Australia\u2019s four-time Olympic gold medallist Ariarne Titmus<\/strong> has delivered a heart-warming tribute to her major opponent Katie Ledecky<\/strong> after taking on the US all-time great head-on, winding up her Paris campaign in style.<\/p>\n

After one of the great races, Ledecky swimming into history winning a classic 800m freestyle final in 8:11.04, her ninth Olympic gold and a fourth straight 800m title – the first woman to achieve such a feat, Titmus again pushing the US super star and her greatest rival every stroke of the way, swimming faster than she\u2019s ever swum.<\/p>\n

Silver again for Titmus, after the pair went 1-2 in Tokyo and her eighth Olympic medal, in a personal best and Australian and Oceania record time of 8:12.29 \u2013 making her the third fastest in history behind Titmus and Canada\u2019s triple Paris golden girl Summer McIntosh.<\/p>\n

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SILVER LINING: Ariarne Titmus of Australia shows the silver medal after competing in the swimming 800m Freestyle Women Final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at La Defense Arena in Paris.( Photo Courtesy DeepBlueMedia.<\/p><\/div>\n

A time faster than Ledecky\u2019s winning time from Tokyo \u2013 bringing out the best in both girls.<\/p>\n

US emerging star Paige Madden also clocking a massive pb, storming home in 8:13.00 for bronze.<\/p>\n

Titmus, the face of Australia\u2019s overall Olympic Team campaign, revealing the pressure she was under to defend her titles \u2013 and racing Ledecky in the 400 and 800m.<\/p>\n

Also knowing she had to take it to Ledecky, making her earn her slice of history \u201cso she could sleep at night.\u201d speaking glowingly of the woman who has become swimming\u2019s GOAT \u2013 a respectful rivalry that began back in 2017.<\/p>\n

A rivalry that again unfolded over 16 enthralling laps in the Paris La Defense Arena \u2013 two greats going at it – leaving it all out there.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was my first pb of the week; I have not done a pb in the 800 since the last Olympics (8:13.83),\u201d Titmus told Australia in a live heart-felt broadcast interview with Channel 9s poolside commentator, Paralympic star Ellie Cole \u2013 herself a six-time Paralympic gold medallist.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m stoked with that and proud of the way I put myself out there and took it to Katie. She\u2019s just a champ. I have the most respect for her of any athlete I\u2019ve ever competed against.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know how hard it is to go back-to-back and (for her) to be on top of the world in the same event for over 12 years is just remarkable and I feel so honored to be part of her story and hopefully it\u2019s made me a better athlete as well\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cKatie has this incredible ability to sustain her race and the only way I could challenge her is to take it out with her, put my body on the line, try and hang on.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew at the end of eight days it would be tough, but I wanted to leave it all out there, and go home from these Games with no regrets and I know I would not have been able to sleep at night if I second guessed my approach to the race\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cI left it all out there and really proud of my efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n