Terminated again: Titmus hands Ledecky another Olympic defeat, claiming gold in the 400 free

Paul Newberry, Associated Press

NANTERRE, France (AP) — It was billed arsenic 1 of nan astir anticipated races of nan Paris Olympics.

Ariarne Titmus turned it into a blowout.

Titmus near Katie Ledecky successful her aftermath astatine La Defense Arena, starring from commencement to decorativeness to triumph nan 400-meter freestyle Saturday night.

Titmus, nan Australian prima known arsenic “The Terminator,” handed Ledecky a 2nd consecutive Olympic conclusion successful an arena nan American won astatine Rio de Janeiro successful 2016.

With her fingernails painted Aussie yellow, Titmus strolled connected platform pinch nan assurance of a reigning champion, flashing a large grin and waving to nan fans.

Titmus knew she was nan swimmer to nan beat, moreover pinch 1 of nan top ever successful nan lane adjacent to her.

Then, she went retired and proved it.

Ariarne Titmus, of Australia, celebrates aft winning nan women’s 400-meter freestyle last astatine nan 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, successful Nanterre, France. | Petr David Josek, Associated Press

Titmus really faced her stiffest situation from Canadian 17-year-old phenom Summer McIntosh but won comfortably successful 3 minutes, 57.49 seconds.

McIntosh claimed nan metallic successful 3:58.37. Ledecky wasn’t moreover close, settling for bronze successful 4:00.86.

“My legs are a spot tired, but I’m conscionable relieved much than anything,” Titmus said. “I astir apt felt nan anticipation and unit for this title much than thing successful my life, to beryllium honest, and I’m beautiful bully astatine handling nan unit of it.”

Ledecky, 27, remains astatine six individual golden medals successful her superb career, still nan astir of immoderate female swimmer successful Olympic history.

Katie Ledecky, of nan United States, competes successful nan women's 400-meter freestyle last astatine nan 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, successful Nanterre, France. | Ashley Landis, Associated Press

Titmus, 23, now has 3 individual Olympic victories connected her increasing resume. She swept nan 200 and 400 free successful Tokyo and is favored to propulsion disconnected nan aforesaid double successful Paris.

“I’m conscionable happy to get nan consequence for myself and I consciousness truthful honored to beryllium a portion of nan title and beryllium alongside legends for illustration Katie,” Titmus said. “I look up to her truthful overmuch arsenic an jock and it’s surely not a rivalry beyond nan races. I really respect her arsenic a person.”

Ledecky isn’t done yet. She skipped a chance to look Titmus again successful nan 200 free, but nan American is favored to return golden successful some nan 800 and 1,500.

Germany’s Lukas Märtens won nan first swimming golden of these games, knocking disconnected 3 world champions successful nan men’s 400 freestyle.

Märtens group a blistering gait done nan first 300 meters and held connected astatine nan extremity to touch successful 3:41.78. The metallic went to Elijah Winnington of Australia, nan 2022 world champ, successful 3:42.21. Reigning world champion Kim Woo-win of South Korea settled for bronze successful 3:42.50.

Ledecky posted nan fastest qualifying clip successful nan greeting heats, but Titmus was intelligibly redeeming herself for nan title that mattered most.

She went astir 5 seconds faster successful nan evening, while Ledecky shaved little than 1 1/2 seconds disconnected her greeting time.

It was a beardown opening to nan games for nan 17-year-old McIntosh, who claimed nan first of what could beryllium aggregate medals successful Paris. She’s nan world-record holder successful nan 400 individual medley.

“I dream that we put connected a bully show tonight,” Titmus said, “and everyone enjoyed it.”

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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Ariarne Titmus, of Australia, left, hugs Katie Ledecky, of nan United States, aft winning nan women’s 400-meter freestyle last astatine nan 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, successful Nanterre, France. | David J. Phillip, Associated Press