Australian Tokyo Golden Girl Ariarne Titmus Inspires Next Generation Before Taking The Plunge for Paris and Round Two With Katie Ledecky
Now that the fanfare of the Olympics has died down dual Tokyo champion Ariarne Titmus, is ready to jump back into the pool again to prepare for the next Olympics in Paris in 2024.
The newly-turned 21-year-old has admitted it will also be a case of “slow and steady” wins the race when next Monday comes around and the alarm clock signals the start of the new Olympic cycle to Paris.
GIRL POWER: Special moment for 12-year-old Sophie Copsey of the Gladstone Gladiators Swim Team whee]n she met her idol Ariarne Titmus. Photo Courtesy: Neal Thomsen (Central Qld Swimming).
It’s been a crazy time returning to Australia as an Olympic champion and “getting invited to just about everything.”
Titmus took time out yesterday from her busy schedule to speak to Swimming World about her life post Tokyo, getting back into training, what the next three years will look like to Paris and her reaction to Katie Ledecky’s move to Florida, their on-going rivalry and her own inspiration from Stephanie Rice.
“I have one more week left and I feel like I’ve been running around like a headless chook,” Titmus said yesterday after attending a State and National Qualifiers Clinic in Rockhampton, 4,700km north of Brisbane in Central Queensland, in her role as a Speedo Ambassador.
“I have had so much stuff on and I feel like I’m ready to go back in the pool.
“I haven’t as such missed swimming, I have missed the feeling of being fit and being really good at swimming and I’ve kind of lost that. So I’m looking forward to getting the feel of the water again and getting back in touch with it all and I’m excited for that.”
LOOK WHO’S HERE: Arnie poses with the team from he Carabeae Swim Team. Photo Courtesy: Neal Thomsen (Central Qld Swimming).
Titmus met and spoke to over 30 of Central Queensland’s emerging stars and their coaches, telling them about her journey from a kid like them to the Olympic gold medal podium, when they gathered under the direction of Swimming Queensland Pathway and Development coach, British Olympian and former Australian Team coach Barry Prime.
“I feel like I have more purpose than just being a competitor in swimming. I feel like I can pass on a lot of advice and inspire young kids and I want to have that impact,” said Titmus, who attended a similar clinic with 2008 triple Olympic champion Stephanie Rice back in her home state of Tasmania in 2012.
“That’s why I’m here in Rockhampton today and Katie Ledecky (I’m sure) is the same and if I was a young swimmer and I had the opportunity to learn from her it would be an unbelieveable opportunity.
“It’s amazing she is volunteering herself to little kids in the US I know they’re going to love that.
“Just like I felt I could really resonate with these kids; when I was there age I used to go to things like this and meet swimmers and I hope they got something out of it.
“I tried to be really be honest and raw and give the squad a full perspective and told them how I was feeling.
PRIME TIME: Swimming Queensland Coach and Development Officer Barry Prime outlines the drill to the Central Qld Team at the 2nd World War Aquatic Centre in Rockhampton. Neal Thomsen (Central Qld Swimming).
“When you get to your teenage years (you have to decide) if swimming is something you want to pursue or if its something you want to take socially or whether you continue with it.
“ At that age you sometimes think that you know best ..and I was a little bit like that myself…and then advice comes from someone like myself and I feel like totally they listen to it and they hear it from someone who has been through it all and I hope they can listen to what I was saying.
“I try to tell them that nothing comes without hard work and it’s tough, it really is tough and it doesn’t come easy and I tried to tell them what everyday life is like.
“That I’m pretty much consumed by swimming and that’s what it has to be if you want to be the best and I hope that if they hear all that from me they take it on board and figure out if swimming is something they really want to take seriously…
“I think it’s amazing to do these clinics up here in places like Rockhampton.
WHAT A GEM: Arnie with the team from the Emerald Seals Swim Team. Photo Courtesy: Neal Thomsen (Central Qld Swimming).
“Swimming in Queensland just doesn’t come out of Brisbane and the Gold Coast it comes from the Sunshine Coast and there are swimmers from all around, Rockhampton, Yeppoon and Gladstone who have all come her to this Clinic to come out on a Sunday and try and learn new things.
“And I feel like its really great they get this opportunity from Swimming Queensland and Speedo and we are just glad to be part of it, giving back to swimming.”
Inspired by Stephanie Rice at a similar age, dual Tokyo Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus, travelled over 4,500 kilometres into Central Queensland yesterday to meet a group of future Australian swimming stars.
“I feel like I want to swim at both the World Championships and the Commonwealth Games next year – obviously it’s going to be a very busy year,” said Titmus.
“When I get back into training I’m going to take it slowly; I don’t have to be at my very bet next year; I have to peak again in three years time in Paris,” said Titmus.
COACHING CREW: Central Queensland coaches lapping it up with Olympic golden girl Ariarne Titmus. Photo Courtesy: Neal Thomsen (Central Qld Swimming).
“I’ll be taking it as it comes and I’ll be at the level where I can be very competitive at those meets but also understand I don’t want to go too hard too soon; I want to make sure I can be ready for Paris….
“I feel like having this break now is really important both physically and mentally and good to let my mind relax; that was the biggest thing, mentally letting my mind relax and not have to think about swimming and so I am ready to go again.
“I think that’s the biggest thing….I’m not going to get much of a break now when I go back no until after Paris which is really why you have to pace yourself.
“It took me leading up to Tokyo, all the work going back to 2016 to get to where I was…with hardly any time off from then until Tokyo…when I get back into it I have to be ready to swim for a long while…”
CENTRAL QLD’s FINEST: This Rockhampton talent pool catches its breath. Photo Courtesy: Neal Thomsen (Central Qld Swimming).
“I definitely remember Stephanie Rice coming down to Launceston to a similar clinic,” recalled Titmus.
“I remember that day and we look back at photos and laugh at them and I feel like especially living in Tassie the big names don’t come down very often.
“It’s not like living in a swimming g State like Queensland when you see Australian Swim Team members all the time at race meets and Queensland State Championships.
“When Steph came down it was a big deal…so that’s why it’s important for these kids to meet me and learn from me and really important for me to give back as well….”
And part of her post Tokyo visits, Titmus arrive back to a heroes welcome in her birth place of Launceston.
“I went back to Tassie for a week and I really enjoyed that so much better than what I thought; going back to Launceston and seeing all the kids which was amazing,” said Titmus.
FROM THE PRIZE POOL: Arnie with Speedo prize winner Saphron Davis, 14 from the Emerald Seals. Photo Courtesy: Neal Thomsen (Central Qld Swimming).
“I went to my two previous schools Sacred Heart Primary School and St Patrick’s College and the pool where I trained the Launceston Aquatic Centre…which will be named the Ariarne Titmus Competition Pool so that’s exciting and I had a little getaway down the east coast while I was there.
“It really made me appreciate where I had come from alot more.
MEET AND GREET: Arnie meets the locals with coach Barry Prime all ears. Photo Courtesy: Neal Thomsen (Central Qld Swimming).
“I had not been back to Tassie hardly since leaving and I made a promise to myself that I want to get down there more for some quick trips just to see old friends and family and spend more time at the place where I’m from.
“I’m such a proud Tasmanian…I really enjoyed going down to Launceston……it was really bizarre.
“I was at that pool doing a similar clinic to what I was doing today. I took a freestyle drill session with young swimmers which was really fun and to see what’s down there what swimming talent is down at the State I really enjoyed it….2012.
“It was certainly full circle that’s for sure.”
And on Katie’s move to Gainesville to prepare for Paris and in her volunteering coaching role.
“Katie is still going to be a very fierce competitor of mine and I hope she stays at the standard she’s been at because it pushes me and it means you get to have some fun races,” said Titmus.
“I wish her all the best and I guess she was in need of a change and hope she has found a place that is going to be good for her and maybe it’s the move she needed to have…”
Titmus v Ledecky stopped the world of swimming in Tokyo…and Paris can’t come quick enough.
PARTING PIC: That’s all from Rockhampton and a day the Central Queensland’s best of the best met Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus. Photo Courtesy: Neal Thomsen (Central Qld Swimming).
Rockhampton is 615km north of Brisbane.
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