Swimming World Championships: Ariarne Titmus has been reduced to tears by coach Dean Boxall’s and the team’s success in Japan
Swimming superstar Ariarne Titmus always thanks her coach Dean Boxall after each win – but on Thursday night she was in tears doing just that. Here’s why it meant so much this time.
Ariarne Titmus was reduced to tears after her latest success at the world championships, letting her emotions overflow while praising her coach Dean Boxall’s latest incredible feats in Japan.
Boxall’s club swimmers have been the stars of the show at the world championships - racking up gold medals and smashing world records night after night.
Two of Boxall’s swimmers - Titmus (400m freestyle) and Mollie O’Callaghan (200m freestyle) - have broken world records to win gold in their individual events while five more have won gold medals in relays.
On Thursday night, every member of the Australian relay team that broke the women’s 4x200m freestyle world record - Titmus, O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack and Brianna Throssell - was trained by Boxall.
Titmus always thanks her coach after each win - and often sheds a tear or two when she does - and she did it again when she spoke about his influence on her and the rest of the team.
“I just feel very passionate about thanking our coach. I personally, like most of us, have a very close relationship with him as my coach, as my friend, as a male figure in my life and I will just be forever grateful to him,” she said.
“This would not be possible without him and I think that is why I owe it to him, I get emotional talking about him ... he means a lot to us.”
Jack also paid tribute to Boxall, who stood by her while she served a two-year ban for a doping violation she always maintains she was innocent of.
“Back in 2019, I was actually part of that relay as well and unfortunately it got stripped from me so to be standing here today with these girls and have my first experience in the 4x2 relay and break the world record, I don‘t think I am going to be able to process it until after this meet to be honest,” she said..
“As Arnie said, we owe it to our coach, he‘s the person that gets us going every day and he’s the person that lifts us up and we did this for him.
“He is our family, he is someone that we aspire to make proud and I think we have done that. I wouldn‘t be surprised if we all shed a little bit of a tear because we’re his girls and we’re there to represent him and the club.”
Unlike the Tokyo Olympics where his celebrations in the stands went viral on social media, Boxall has kept himself out of the limelight this week, refusing to talk to media.
But he remains a constant presence on the pool deck.
Following the relay, Boxall remained at the Fukuoka pool long after all the other coaches had headed for the exit door once the medal ceremony was done.
Sitting all alone, he watched from the other side of the water while his four swimmers got to enjoy their moment in the spotlight, chatting to Australian and international television crews and reporters.
“We are on fire, it’s just amazing,” O’Callaghan said.
“No matter how bad we race or how good we race, we are always there for each other and I think that‘s why we’re lifting so much, because there’s that support and understanding of what we are going through.”
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