Titmus says jealousy behind critics of coach’s harsh training methods

Olympic golden girl Ariarne Titmus has called out critics of her coach Dean Boxall and his militant training methods.

Olympic golden girl Ariarne Titmus has called out critics of her coach Dean Boxall’s training methods declaring she had to be pushed to her limits every day to achieve greatness in the pool.

Titmus stunned the world when she won double gold at the Tokyo Olympics, with her 200m and 400m freestyle victories over American Katie Ledecky creating international headlines for toppling arguably the greatest female swimmer of all-time.

But Boxall’s methods and character were immediately questioned worldwide because of his exuberant and theatrical post-race celebrations and previous concerns over his military-style training program in Brisbane.

Ariarne Titmus celebrates her 200m freestyle gold medal with coach Dean Boxall. Pic: Getty Images

In a wide-ranging podcast interview with former Australian swimmer turned US-based coach Brett Hawke, Titmus shut down Boxall’s critics and said his approach was needed to take down the “GOAT.”

“If people understood what work it takes, I don’t think they would comprehend it,” Titmus told Hawke.

“Some part of it may be jealousy, who knows, but this is what high performance sport is. You have to work hard for it, and if being pushed to the limit and being battered down every day is what I need then that is what I need to get the best out of myself.

“If you don’t like it don’t comment on it, you’re not the one being pushed. At not one point did I ever tell Dean ‘stop I don’t want this.’

“I agreed to this. I want to be pushed. I love it. I love feeling the pain of training. I love being pushed to the limit. That is why he is the perfect coach for me.

“We made a deal going into the Olympics. We knew for me to swim my best he had to push me to my absolute limit.

“Some days you really copped it but it was just what I needed to get the best out of myself.

“This is high performance sport. Coming into these Olympics we just weren’t in an event where you were trying to win Olympic gold, I was in an event trying to take out what we believe is the GOAT in Katie. To do that we had to push ourselves to the absolute limit.”

While Titmus said she didn’t realise the enormity of her Olympic 400m freestyle win until she was receiving her medal on the podium, Boxall immediately enjoyed what he later told her was like an “out of body experience”. But his fist-pumping and glass-shaking pelvic thrusts were slammed in the US for stealing her moment.

”I loved it. I in no way feel like he has taken my limelight or anything,” she said.

Dean Boxall’s infamous post-race celebration when Ariarne Titmus won gold in the 400m freestyle at Tokyo Olympic Games. Pic: Channel 7

Titmus arrived back home in Brisbane on Tuesday and after the emotional and physical toll of the Games she needs an extended break from the pool.

“I burst into tears and literally collapsed into (Boxall’s arms),” Titmus said of her relief after her last race in Tokyo.

“It was like I was done and I could finally relax. You don’t get much sleep during an Olympics and it’s emotionally draining.”

Ariarne Titmus arrives home to Brisbane greeted by her sister Mia and mum Robyn. Pic: NCA NewsWire

She will resume training some time in October to prepare for the 2022 world championships and the three-year road to her 2024 Olympic defence in Paris. 

“I’m definitely not thinking about swimming (right now),” she said.

“Over Covid I didn’t have a break. I haven’t had a break longer than two weeks in my life since I was 7.

“I think I really need this time to refresh physically and mentally.

“I want to go back to training ready to go and ready to be back in business.”