Commonwealth Games 2022: it doesn’t get easier for Ariarne Titmus, she beat Ledecky now Summer McIntosh challenges

Ariarne Titmus may have beaten Katie Ledecky for Olympic gold and now hold her world record, but it’s a Canadian teenage phenomenon who will challenge in Birmingham.

If Ariarne Titmus thinks there’s calmer waters ahead after busting her gut to beat Katie Ledecky at last year’s Olympics then her world record last month, she’s in for a rude awakening.

As every elite athlete will attest, things only get harder when you go from being the hunter to being the hunted, and Titmus now has a giant target on her back.

A victim of her own success, the double Olympic gold medallist is already coming under attack from two fronts.

Ariarne Titmus has gone from hunter to hunted in the pool - under attack from two challengers. Photo by Michael Klein

Ledecky, unsurprisingly, isn’t going away. If anything, the American is more determined than ever to square the ledger with Titmus, moving to Florida to train with famed coach Anthony Nesty and blitzing everyone at the world championships.

Not only did she reclaim her 400m world crown from the absent Titmus but she also won four gold medals to become the most successful female swimmer ever at the world titles.

Her trash-talking team mate Lily King posted a message on social media congratulating her fellow American but with a cheeky headline, calling Ledecky “the Terminator’ - which, of course, is our Arnie’s nickname.

Ledecky bit her lip but there was a bit of twinkle in her eye when she was asked whether she was peeved at losing her world record to the Australian.

“If I didn’t have motivation before that, that would be a problem,” Ledecky told News Corp.

“I think a lot of people are like, ‘oh, it must motivate you more’ but I’m always motivated.”

Without Ariarne Titmus at the World Championships, Katie Ledecky wone four gold medals. Picture: AFP

But it’s not just Ledecky gunning for Titmus. There’s an even more dangerous predator lurking in the waters.

After years focussed on catching the one in front of her, it’s the one coming at her from behind that is the real worry for Titmus.

Just 15, Canada’s Summer McIntosh is a superstar on the rise, doing phenomenal things that have experts wondering if she might surpass them all as the GOAT.

She’s just won her first world title - in 200m butterfly - and has three junior world records to her name - in 200m fly, 200m freestyle and 400m individual medley.

Her best times are still a little behind Titmus and Ledecky but - and this is the killer - she is miles ahead of where they were at the same age.

In the 400m freestyle for example, McIntosh has already broken the magical 4-minute barrier, clinching a silver medal at the world titles in 3:59.39.

That’s 10 seconds faster than Titmus was at the same age, and more than five seconds faster than Ledecky.

But it’s not just her times that should alarm Titmus, it’s the way she goes about her business.

A lot of young swimmers lose their nerve on the big stage, but not McIntosh. She’s fearless and up for the fight, especially in the 400m.

“I think you have to race fearlessly,” she told News Corp.

“You have to trust your training and to think about all the hard work that you’ve done and put into it and just believe you can come back in the second 200m and give it all you can.”

If that sounds familiar it’s because it’s the same honest approach that Titmus has and that;s no coincidence.

Canadian 15 year old is Ariarne Titmus’ other challenger and she has no fear of her highly decorated opponents. Picture: Getty Images

McIntosh has been following Titmus and Ledecky closely - not only in the pool - so rather than fear them, she’s cloning herself off them.

She watched Titmus break the world record last month and hasn’t been any limits on herself breaking the Australian’s mark one day.

“I try not to put too much on times and records but it was definitely a really good thing to watch that race and se her break that barrier and I’ll just see where I can get to,” McIntosh said.

“Both Katie and Ariarne are both really big inspirations to me and to see what they’ve both accomplished together and separately is really amazing.

“They’re both really tough racers and are extremely competitive in the pool and I’m really excited for Comm Games.”