Tokyo Olympics 2021: Moment Ariarne Titmus was destined for greatness

An achievement years before her spectacular gold medal win at the Tokyo Olympics is seen as a pivotal moment in Ariarne Titmus’ swimming career.

Long before her famous gold medal there was a little gold statuette which meant just as much.

This is Ariarne Titmus’Ash Barty moment.

Just as the now iconic photo of a bashful Barty celebrating an early tennis title win is seen as a key moment of her journey so too is this photo of an eight-year-old Titmus after winning a 25m breaststroke race in Launceston for her first swimming title and trophy.

“Breaststroke was her best stroke early,’’ said her mother Robyn of the new Olympic 400m champion.

“When she moved up into a senior squad she had to pick up freestyle because she was right on the end of the squad and had to do freestyle to stay there.’’

Father Steve remembers Ariarne being firmly warned at her first training session as a child for repeatedly putting her head under the water.

Ariarne Titmus after winning a gold medal for the women's 400m freestyle final. Picture: Getty Images

“I can still hear the instructor saying “Ariarne, stop that … we haven’t got to the stage yet,’’ Steve said.

Robyn recalls: “Her body grew and she improved. She wasn’t strong as a youngster but she always had a good technique. We had a pool in the backyard and she developed breaststroke without any training.

“I remember looking at her and thing “oh wow, she looks like a fish in water. I remember having both girls in the water under six months old.’’