Olympic gold medallist Ariarne Titmus unrecognisable in Stellar

One of Australia’s biggest swimming stars has stunned in a quirky photoshoot for the cover of this week’s Stellar magazine.

Australian swimming sensation Ariarne Titmus has stunned in a quirky photoshoot for the cover of this week’s issue of Stellar magazine.

The 21-year-old Olympic and Commonwealth Games champion – who has spent the last two years notching up gold medal wins and setting world records – posed in an all-pink ensemble and blunt, blonde wig, accessorised with an oversized, pink-and-black checkered bow.

Opening up about her performance at this year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham – where she won four gold and one silver medal – Titmus reflected it was “probably … the first time that I really felt the pressure”.

“Going into the [2020 Tokyo] Olympics (where she picked up two gold, one silver and one bronze medal), there was pressure, but I was also still the underdog, even though most people expected me to win,” she told Stellar.

“But going into these Games, after the Olympics, more people bought into [my chances] and watched me swim and expected me to win. I really felt that this time. I tried not to let it get to me and I don’t think it did.

“My goal was to go there and win the four gold medals. So I was really happy to do that.”

The 21-year-old picked up four gold and one silver medal at the Birmingham Games. Picture: Michael Klein

As she looks ahead to the 2024 Paris Olympics, Titmus will this year serve as a Victoria Racing Club (VRC) ambassador for the upcoming Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Asked whether her lifelong love of horseracing could eventually lead to a post-swimming career in the field, the Tassie native admitted she’s “never really thought about it”.

“There will always be a part of me that really loves riding, but I’m glad that I made the decision to continue with swimming,” she said.

“I have no idea what my life would look like if I had continued with equestrian. Maybe it’s something I’ll pick up again later in life.”

Titmus admitted at this year’s Commonwealth Games, ‘more people … watched me swim and expected me to win’. Picture: Michael Klein

Reflecting on what she might do when she does eventually retire from her illustrious swimming career, Titmus said that she tries “to be in the moment as much as I can and I try not to put a limit on when I’m going to retire, or how long I’m going to swim, or where my life will be”.

“But I certainly think that I have to plan for life after swimming. The lifespan for an athlete, especially a swimmer, isn’t very long,” she added.

“So I guess lots of things that I’m doing now are helping set me up [for the future]. I really enjoy meeting people and learning about people. I think it will all tie in to what I end up doing after swimming.”

Read Ariarne Titmus’ full interview in Stellar, available now in The Sunday Telegraph, Sunday Herald Sun and The Sunday Mail

Originally published as Olympic gold medallist Ariarne Titmus unrecognisable in Stellar