Arnie the new face of the Melbourne Cup

Olympics hero Ariarne Titmus says her former life as a competitive horse rider taught her to be calm and focused as a future champion in the swimming pool.

OLYMPICS hero Ariarne Titmus says her former life as a competitive horse rider taught her to be calm and focused as a future champion in the swimming pool.

Titmus, who won two gold medals in Tokyo, is the Victoria Racing Club’s official ambassador for Lexus Melbourne Cup Day.

Long before her pool prowess, Titmus owned horses, rode them, and competed in dressage and show jumping events as child growing up in Tasmania

Tokyo Olympic games Gold Medallist Ariarne Titmus has been announced as the 2021 Melbourne Cup Day Ambassador. Ariarne is riding retired thoroughbred racehorse Immortalis at The Spit, Main Beach, Gold Coast. Ariarne is wearing racewear from sass & bide/Myer. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Tokyo Olympic games Gold Medallist Ariarne Titmus has been announced as the 2021 Melbourne Cup Day Ambassador. Ariarne is riding retired thoroughbred racehorse Immortalis at The Spit, Main Beach, Gold Coast. Ariarne is wearing racewear from sass & bide/Myer. Picture: Zac Simmonds

“I loved the connection that you can make with a horse,” Titmus said. “Horses help you relax. In sport, swimming and equestrian are very chalk-and-cheese, but (growing up with horses) I was always a calm person; relaxed.”

Tokyo Olympic games Gold Medallist Ariarne Titmus has been announced as the 2021 Melbourne Cup Day Ambassador. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Ariarne is riding retired thoroughbred racehorse Immortalis at The Spit, Main Beach, Gold Coast. Ariarne is wearing racewear from sass & bide/Myer. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Ariarne is riding retired thoroughbred racehorse Immortalis at The Spit, Main Beach, Gold Coast. Picture: Zac Simmonds

Ariarne Titmus. Picture: Zac Simmonds

Titmus is honoured about her role at the Melbourne Cup Carnival, and hopes restrictions are eased so she can attend the horse race that stops a nation.

“I’m looking forward to switching my swimmers for racewear and revelling in the spirit of the day,” she said.

Meanwhile, Titmus is adjusting life after her Tokyo triumphs, but has vowed to stay humble.

“I only swim because I love it. I don’t swim for the fame or the wins. I do it because it’s my favourite thing to do in the world.

“But I’m hungry to win more,” Titmus said. “When you get a taste of winning at the highest level, it a hard to describe, but it’s an addictive feeling.”

VRC CEO Steve Rosich said Titmus’ “spirit, determination ... and unparalleled talent inspired a nation.”

The Melbourne Cup will run on November 2.