Ariarne Titmus and Lani Pallister’s bid to dethrone legendary Katie Ledecky in 800m freestyle Olympic battle

Legend Katie Ledecky’s pet event is the 800 metres, yet Ariarne Titmus and Lani Pallister are embracing the challenge of denying the greatest female swimmer of all time her fourth straight gold in it.

It might be swimming’s version of mission impossible but Ariarne Titmus and Lani Pallister are bracing themselves to take on the biggest challenge at the Paris Olympics after a frightening day at the pool.

There were dramatic scenes at the La Defense Arena during the heats when Slovakian medley swimmer Tamara Potocka collapsed motionless on the pool deck after her race.

Medical officials rushed to her aid as competition paused for several minutes while they applied oxygen and stretchered her out of the arena before continuing the session.

After teaming up to help Australia beat the United States to win the gold medal in the women’s 4x200m relay, Australia’s two middle-distance stars are preparing to take on Katie Ledecky over 800m.

Ledecky is the greatest female swimmer the world has ever seen – winning eight Olympic gold medals so far in 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m – but her strongest event is the 800m.

She’s won the gold medal in the 16-lap race at the last three Olympics and if she wins again in Paris, she will join Michael Phelps as the only swimmer to win the same event four times.

She set the fastest heat time for Sunday morning’s final but Titmus and Pallister are looming as her biggest threats, if there is such a thing.

Titmus and Ledecky take off in the heats of the women's 800m freestyle. Picture: Manan VATSYAYANA / AFP

“I’m pretty buggered but I get a day and a half so I’m gonna be a hermit in my room and camp in the village and just stay in there and then get ready for tomorrow night,” Titmus said.

“I think I have put together good 800s, I just don’t think my training has reflected the times I’ve done racing so at the end of the week, it’s really hard to swim fast after a tough eight days, but I’m gonna give it a red hot crack my last swim at these Olympics so I’m gonna give it everything I’ve got.”

The two-time gold medallist in 400m, Titmus qualified third fastest while Pallister was fourth.

It will take a mighty effort for either of them to beat Ledecky but they are not throwing in the towel yet.

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Titmus has made no secret of her great admiration for Ledecky and how she has dedicated her life to beating her.

“I definitely wouldn’t be the swimmer I am without Katie. She’s just pushed me so hard to try and chase her,” Titmus said.

“She’s a force in the swimming world.‘ And to be able to beat her, I think is just as much of an achievement as the gold medal.”

Lani Pallister prepares for her 800m freestyle heat. Picture: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Pallister said she also admires Ledecky after a chance meeting with her a decade ago.

“She’s amazing. I toured to US nationals in 2014 and watched her break the 400m world record,” Pallister said.

“I met her after the race and she signed my little autograph book that I had and it says ‘dream big’ so I’ve had that for 10 years now.

“So that’s pretty special that I met her all those years ago, and now I get to race against her at my first Olympics. I remember I was just so starstruck.”

The next time Pallister got to meet Ledecky was at the world championships two years ago when they raced against each other in the 1500, with the American winning gold and the Aussie bronze.

“I met her in 2022 over in Budapest, and I kind of just word vomited,” Pallister said.

“I was mortified after. She is so lovely. She’s one of the most down to earth and kind hearted people I’ve ever met.

“And the legacy that she’s created to distance swimming, American swimming and just the women’s sport is remarkable and she’s obviously a name that everyone will look at forever.”

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