Ariarne Titmus addresses Olympics pre-race controversy with Katie Ledecky

Ariarne Titmus addresses Olympics pre-race controversy with Katie Ledecky

Ariarne Titmus’ pre-race error on Saturday turned out to be her solely mistake of the night time in successful a second consecutive gold medal within the 400-meter freestyle.

And, the Australian swimmer defined, it was not some sort of intimidation tactic when she lined up in Katie Ledecky’s lane — merely an sincere error.

“I simply noticed that that one was the free one,” Titmus stated, per the Herald Solar. “Normally such as you stroll out the one on the left is the one you go to and I completely didn’t even understand and take a look at the quantity and we had a little bit of fun within the medal ceremony room.

Katie Ledecky (l.) and Ariarne Titmus (r.) react as they place their belongings down earlier than the ladies’s 400-meter freestyle remaining on the Olympics on July 27, 2024. Getty Pictures
Katie Ledecky (l.) and Ariarne Titmus (r.) earlier than the ladies’s 400-meter freestyle remaining on the Olympics on July 27, 2024. Getty Pictures

“I feel [Ledecky] simply stated, ‘Hey Arnie, I feel that’s my lane.’ And I used to be like, ‘Oh my god, I’m so sorry.’ I simply picked up my stuff and moved over.

“After which she stated to me within the medal ceremony room, ‘Don’t fear, I feel it’s instinctive for us to go over to lane 4 nowadays.’

“Like, if anybody thinks it was on goal, that’s not true. It was completely an sincere mistake.”

2024 PARIS OLYMPICS

Ariarne Titmus of Staff Australia (l.) and Katie Ledecky of Staff United States (r.) compete within the Ladies’s 400-meter freestyle warmth on July 27, 2024. Getty Pictures

Ledecky completed third within the occasion to take bronze, behind Titmus and Canadian Summer time McIntosh.

“I instructed her, ‘All good, all good,’ as a result of she was freaking out,” Ledecky stated, per the Herald Solar. “I didn’t need her to really feel unhealthy or something. I joked together with her earlier than the medals, you’re getting a bit comfy there in lane 4.

Katie Ledecky (r.) together with her bronze medal and Ariarne Titmus (l.) with gold after the ladies’s
400-meter freestyle remaining on July 27, 2024. Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports activities

“That was no massive deal. I didn’t need both of us to be disqualified for swimming within the improper lane. We received it taken care of.”

Titmus and Ledecky will face off once more within the 800-meter freestyle, with Ledecky the favourite over the better distance.

Titmus can be swimming the 200-meter race, whereas Ledecky is competing within the 1,500-meter occasion.