They can’t be there to watch live, but that won’t slow down the Titmus family’s love and support

It has been some ride for the Titmus family but that won’t stop their enjoyment of watching Ariarne in action, even if they can’t be there. WHEN YOU CAN CATCH OUR OLYMPIANS IN ACTION >>

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STEVE Titmus couldn’t help but look.

He had just received a video from his swimming superstar daughter Ariarne of the Tokyo Olympic Games pool, and his gaze immediately headed into the stands searching for what should have been his seat.

Instead due to the Covid pandemic Steve, wife Robyn and youngest daughter Mia, 18, will be back in Brisbane, screaming at the TV as Ariarne, in her first Olympics, goes head to head with female’s greatest swimmer, US star Katie Ledecky.

Steve, well known in Tasmania as the former Southern Cross news anchor, can’t but feel the sense of loss and frustration at not being able to see potentially his daughter’s greatest triumph in person, but admirably has a much bigger perspective.

“It is massively disappointing all around that we can’t go but the safety of the Japanese people and the world is far more important than us attending the Olympic Games,” Steve said.

“But you are kidding yourself if you don’t say it is enormously disappointing.

“Arnie sent us a video of the swimming pool and it is amazing. It is an extraordinary stadium that is massive and I looked up in the grandstand thinking ‘there is my seat’.”

The Titmus clan will not be alone though, with a pack of Olympic parents gathering together to share the highs and lows of their children competing in the world’s biggest sporting event.

“The great thing as parents we are going to all be together like we would have been in the grandstands,” he said.

“We’ll be able to be excited together and enjoy the ride come what may.”

Olympic swimmer Ariarne Titmus. Pics Adam Head

Steve said there was some disappointment Ariarne, 20, won’t get the full Olympic experience in Tokyo with no family or fans in attendance, but it hasn’t dented her steely focus and determination.

He said the public expectations that Ariane, who opens her campaign with the 400m freestyle heats on Sunday, will come home with a swathe of gold medals does not impact her or the family.

“As a family we don’t feel the pressure,” he said.

“We just want Arnie to be happy with how she swum.

“Whatever that result is, that’s what it is.

“We do not have an expectation she will win a gold medal. Our expectation is we hope she can swim her best and if that’s good enough on the day to win a gold, a silver or a bronze, so be it.”

Steve and Robyn gave up everything back in 2015 when they packed up their Riverside home, just out of Launceston, and moved to Brisbane so Ariarne could chase her dream with the best swimming coaches in the best facilities.

They do not take credit for her success, which includes being the first swimmer to defeat Ledecky at a major event in any distance since 2012 with victory in the 400m world championships final in 2019 in South Korea.

Titmus

She may be Australian swimming’s next big thing, but once she’s inside the Titmus family home, she is still just one part of the quartet.

“As a parent we’ve had to manage the relationships between Arnie and Mia,” he said.

“We’ve been very conscience in the family home that Arnie doesn’t get any preferential treatment.

“Our daughters are treated very much equally and there is certainly no favouritism towards Ariarne because she happens to be an Olympian.

“Mia is studying at Griffith University and her ambition in life is to be a nurse so just like Arnie we provide the support that is required for Mia to be successful in fulfilling her dreams. “Her dreams are just as important as Ariarne’s.”

And despite Ariarne walking out with “Queensland” next to her name at national swimming events, Steve said his daughter – and his family – certainly haven’t forgotten their roots.

“Once you are a Tasmanian you are always a Tasmanian,” he said.

“She is still enormously proud that she’s come from Tasmania.”

TASMANIANS IN ACTION

Saturday

10.30am - Australian v Japan hockey (Eddie Ockenden, Josh Beltz)

12pm - cycling road race (Richie Porte)

Sunday

12.20pm - women’s eights heats (Sarah Hawe)

2pm - C1 heats (Daniel Watkins)

6.20pm - Australia v Nigeria basketball (Chris Goulding)

7.30pm - Kookaburras v India hockey (Eddie Ockenden, Josh Beltz)

8.30pm - Australia v Spain football (Nathaniel Atkinson)

9.39pm - 400m freestyle heats (Ariarne Titmus)

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