US great Katie Ledecky has refused to say the name Ariarne Titmus ahead of Paris clash

Katie Ledecky’s rivalry with Ariarne Titmus has ignited once again after the US great’s apparent snub of our Australian Olympic champion.

Not for the first time, US legend Katie Ledecky has brushed Australian rival Ariarne Titmus.

As the US swim team vowed an “internal fire” was fuelling their Olympic rivalry with Australia more than Karl Stefanovic calling Michael Phelps a tosser on national television, it was what Ledecky refused to say that was most noticeable from a packed Paris press conference: the name Ariarne Titmus.

Canadian teen super freak Summer McIntosh got special mention, but just as she has done previously before major meets Ledecky simply couldn’t bring herself to personally acknowledge the world record holder whom she has not beaten in the 400m freestyle since 2019.

Titmus has owned Ledecky in eight-lap head-to-head battles since her stunning Tokyo Olympic victory but the US champion insisted she has found the motivation to climb the mountain again and is capable of winning their battle on day one on Saturday.

She is the third fastest all-time entering the race, relishing the role of Olympic hunter for the first time since her debut at London 2012.

Ariarne Titmus at her first swim session at the Paris La Defense Arena.

“I like my chances, but yeah that’s me and I feel like I’m prepared and ready to race and that’s all you can ask for,” said Ledecky.

“So I’m gonna give it my best shot and it’s obviously a great field, top to bottom. Lots of people that have a chance so I’m just gonna put up a great race in the morning and at night and see where that lands me.

“They’re great athletes and I’ve had the chance to race them quite a few times over the years now, especially Summer being in the US training in the US and we’ve raced a lot the last couple of years.

“It’s always fun to race the best and we have the top three times ever in that race so that just makes for a great field, great race.

Katie Ledecky training at the Paris La Defense Arena.

“Those two have continued to raise the game, raise my game.

“I know that I have to bring my best. I think they know that they have to bring their best.”

The fascinating rivalry between the Dolphins and the US will be one of the subplots of the pool program, with the Americans incensed at “sore loser” comments from Cate Campbell last year over a medal tally standoff where Australia won more gold, but the US claimed the top ranking due to their overall total medal tally.

Three-time Olympian Abbey Weitzeil said videos of the television exchanges were well known within the US team.

“Everyone has seen all the videos going around and all we can do is focus on ourselves and what we can do and perform,” Weitzeil said.

“There’s always the internal fire. We’re very competitive people and I think it brings it out a little bit of that competitiveness, but it’s the competitiveness that has always been there.

“We’re here to perform and we’re as ready as we would be without that video even being out so we’re ready for the race. Everyone’s at the top of their game.”

Originally published as US great Katie Ledecky has refused to say the name Ariarne Titmus ahead of Paris clash