World champ Ariarne Titmus declares Katie Ledecky favourite for 2020 Olympic Games 400m

World swimming champion Ariarne Titmus has declared Katie Ledecky favourite for the 2020 Olympic Games 400m freestyle title despite shocking the USA great by beating her at last year’s world championships.

World swimming champion Ariarne Titmus has declared Katie Ledecky favourite for the 2020 Olympic Games 400m freestyle title despite shocking the USA great by beating her at last year’s world championships.

Titmus said Ledecky deserved top billing in Tokyo this year after she had caught her on an “off swim’’ to break the American’s seven year unbeaten record.

Asked how would she respond to Ledecky now chasing her at the Olympics, Titmus replied: “I think I am still chasing her. Her world record (3:56.46) is still two seconds over my PB.

“I am just glad I had a great swim at worlds and she had an off swim.’’

Swimmer Ariarne Titmus celebrates her 2019 world championship selection.(AAP Image/Darren England)

Titmus predicted it would still take an “unbelievable swim from my end’’ to beat Ledecky at her best.

“She is 100 per cent still favourite,’’ Titmus said.

TITMUS PROVIDES INSIGHT INTO HER RELATIONSHIP WITH COACH BOXALL

The St Peters Western swimmer said her win over Ledecky, when she became the first Australian woman to claim the world 400m title since Tracey Wickham in 1978, did come sooner than she expected.

Ariarne Titmus from St Peters Western Swim Club. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

While Titmus was confident of challenging Ledecky at the 2019 world titles and just simply swimming for second, she did not actually think she would win a world title so soon.

“When I put it into perspective, I was only on the Australian junior team when she was at the Rio Olympics,’’ Titmus said.

Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus in full cry. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

“I did not think it would come this soon, but based on how I was swimming, I knew this was the time I would have a proper race with her and not just be racing for silver.’’

Titmus added: “I knew it was going to be a battle’’, but did not no know that would mean actually beating Ledecky.’’

TITMUS WINS SWIMMING AUSTRALIA’S TOP PRIZE

Tasmanian-born Titmus, an alumni of St Peters Lutheran College, said she was also aiming to improve her 200m and 800m freestyle times after she medalled in both events at the world championships, although out of all three, the 400m remained her favourite event.

“It has come naturally,’’ Titmus said.

A smiling Ariarne Titmus. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

Titmus is in Noosa this week with her coach from St Peters Western Dean Boxall who was overseeing a Swimming Australia 200m freestyle and relay camp.

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Michael Bohl was overseeing the butterfly and backstroke camp on the Gold Coast while other camps were being staged this week on the Sunshine Coast (breaststroke) and in Canberra (100m freestyle and relays) as part of preparation for Tokyo.

Established and prospective Australian Dolphins were attending the camps.

Titmus: Fast Facts

2017 world championships:

+ 17th in 200m

+ 4th in 400m IM

+ 3rd as part of 4x200m freestyle relay

2018 Commonwealth Games:

+ 3 individual medals (2 gold, 1 silver) and relay (gold) in the 4x200m, freestyle

2019 World championships:

+ 1st 400m freestyle

+ 2nd: 200m freestyle

+ 3rd 800m freestyle

+ 1st, 4x200m relay