Tokyo Olympics: Titmus v Ledecky: Epic locked in
The first encounter in the four-round heavyweight battle to decide whether Ariarne Titmus or Katie Ledecky is the best female swimmer in the world will take place. Don't miss it!
Australia’s super female swimmers are eyeing two more gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday after the race that will stop two nations was officially locked and loaded.
Billed as the first encounter in the four-round heavyweight battle to decide the best female swimmer in the world, Australia’s Ariarne Titmus and her American rival, Katie Ledecky, easily won their heats to book their places in the 400m freestyle final.
Ledecky set the fastest overall time of 4:00.45 with Titmus third in 4:01.66, with the pair set to swim next to each other in lanes four and three.
“I felt really good, probably the most relaxed I’ve actually felt in a long time,” said Titmus, who barely moved out of first gear as she coasted to victory almost five seconds slower than her personal best set at June’s Australian trials.
“I was really relaxed and I just tried to conserve the emotions for tomorrow morning, so I think I did that well and I’m happy to be in one of the middle lanes.
“I had to go out there and have a bit of a hit out, it wasn’t slow, but I’d like to think I’ve got a bit more in the tank for the final.”
Ledecky also took her foot off the gas a long way from home to conserve her energy for the final after noticing that all the fastest qualifiers in the distance events held so far in Tokyo have been beaten after going slower in the final.
“It’s going to be a great race with Ariarne and a lot of great swimmers,” Ledecky said.
“We’re going to be in there, in the middle lanes in all likelihood - it’ll be a great race.”
Emma McKeon, who won gold as a member of the Australian 4x100m freestyle relay that broke the world record on Sunday, will be chasing her second medal in the women’s 100m butterfly after qualifying third overall.
Australia’s men are also in the hunt for a spot on the podium after qualifying third fastest in the men’s relay. Our number one swimmer, Kyle Chalmers, made a surprise appearance in the heat swim.
He said after the race he just wanted to get into the pool after watching our four female sprinters win gold and set a new world record in the women’s 4x100m relay.
Chelsea Hodges made it to the semis of the women’s 100m breaststroke, qualifying 12th, while Mitch Larkin (fourth) and Isaac Cooper (13th) advanced to the next stage of the men’s 100m backstroke.
“It’s such an interesting meet to be honest,” said Larkin, who trains alongside Titmus, Elijah Winnington as well as Meg Harris and Mollie O’Callaghan, who are members of the Australian relay that won gold.
“Seeing them get up and absolutely smash it gave me confidence in knowing the training we are doing is hopefully working.”
Relive all the action in our blog below.
Originally published as Tokyo Olympics: Titmus v Ledecky: Epic locked in
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