‘Darwin really, really helped’: Ariarne Titmus says time in Top End beneficial for Olympics prep

Olympic superstar Ariarne Titmus has shared her experience quarantining in Howard Springs and has said her time in Darwin prior to qualifying for Tokyo was invaluable.

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QUEEN of the pool Ariarne Titmus says her time in Darwin helped her focus and prepare for Olympic trials and the Tokyo 2020 Games, where she won an astounding seven medals.

Titmus is more than halfway through quarantine in Howard Springs, where she and fellow swimmers Emily Seebohm, Brianna Throssell and Kiah Melverton are spending time working out, lounging in the sun and looking back on their efforts in Tokyo.

The dual gold medallist, while eager to be home and in the arms of her family, said she was enjoying her time in Howard Springs.

“The weather has been good, we’ve been able to tan on our balconies and get some sun and fresh air,” Titmus told the NT News.

“It’s really nice that we get to be able to talk to our neighbours on the balconies next to us … the staff and all the nurses here have been really good and really friendly.”

Ariarne Titmus shared her experience in quarantine at Howard Springs. Picture: Instagram

In May, Titmus and fellow swimmers from Saint Peters Western in Queensland and the South Australian Sports Institute were in Darwin for two weeks of training ahead of the Olympic trials.

It was Titmus’ first time in Darwin and she said the environment and swimming at Parap Pool had been an invaluable experience.

“That training camp was our last training camp away before the Olympic trials and that’s where I got the last really important bit of work done before trials,” she said.

“Going away on a training camp is good because you kind of have no distractions from home … I think that last little bit in Darwin really, really helped.

Images posted to Instagram by Australian Athletes arriving home from the Tokyo Olympics to Howard Springs quarantine. Ariarne Titmus enjoys her first meal in lockdown.

“Darwin is a beautiful place to come and see. Obviously here in Howard Springs we can’t really see any of Darwin but you definitely get a sense of the lifestyle with the weather.

“I mean, this is winter and it’s pretty hot.”

The elite athlete said quarantining in Howard Springs afforded herself and fellow athletes the opportunity to reflect on their performances in Tokyo.

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“It’s good to be able to come here first. It gives you an opportunity to relax and recover and reflect and think about what we did,” she said.

“There’s not many opportunities in life where you’re pretty much forced to rest.”

Titmus said she would be delighted if Darwin was able to host a celebration upon their release.

“That sounds really amazing,” she said.

“It all depends on what time our flights are but I feel like any support that we feel from the Australian public is really special especially when there were no crowds over in Tokyo.”