A relieved Australian Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus has been cleared after undergoing emergency surgery to remove benign tumors from one of her ovaries, she revealed today.
In one of the scariest moments of her 23 years, the reigning Olympic and world champion and world record holder for 400m freestyle discovered the tumors by chance when having an MRI scan on her hip.
AAP reported that the Olympic and world champion feared implications from the tumors would deny her a chance to be a mother, something she described as her “biggest dream” saying “I feel blessed that I found these tumors before they got even bigger.”
The star of the Tokyo Olympics with her two individual gold medals, has revealed she now felt blessed that surgery in Brisbane yesterday (Thursday) had successfully removed the tumors.
SCARY TIME: Ariarne Titmus in hospital in Brisbane. Photo Courtesy: Ariarne TitmusInstagram
“For a while I’ve been managing an ongoing hip injury and three weeks ago I had an MRI to suss out exactly what was going on,” Titmus posted on Instagram on Friday.
“Sure enough, there was a little something with the hip that is completely manageable.
“However, it was something else that the doctors picked up and that made everything else seem irrelevant – a large growth was found on my right ovary.
“For anyone that knows me, they’d know I’d give up anything in the world to be a mother, it’s my biggest dream so this was a scary time for me.
“Of course in these moments you think of the worst case scenario and I was petrified of potentially losing the ovary or there being implications that could affect me and my desire to have children one day.
“However, I am one of the lucky ones.”
Titmus said her right ovary contained two benign tumours, each four centimetres in size, called dermoids.
“Yesterday I had surgery and they were removed safely…but I’m feeling well and relieved they are out.” Titmus said.
Just a month ago Titmus, was triumphant in the race of the century against Katie Ledecky, Summer McIntosh and Erica Fairweather as Australia’s Dolphins scooped the pool at the Fukuoka World Championships and today she is counting her blessings.
“Being an athlete is tough. Being a woman is tough. In the last month I’ve learnt more about my body and what it is capable of. I’ve learnt that being fit and healthy doesn’t mean you are immune to these things. I feel blessed that I found these tumors before they got even bigger and started to have real implications on my health.Thank you to my family and those close to me for being there as support during a bit of a scary time. Thank you to the amazing doctors who safely got rid of my little “gremlins” and took great care of me.”
Tipped to be one of the real star attractions in he pool at next year’s Paris Olympics, Titmus said she would now rest and recover “for a couple of weeks” before returning to training under coach Dean Boxall at St Peters Western. The 2024 Australian Olympics Trials will be swum next June.
“Time to rest up and recover…..before we go again…Love you all!”
AUTHORS NOTE: Lovely to see your smiling face Arnie. The Swimming World is right behind you…and we all wish you the speediest of recoveries…..and know you’ll be back fitter and faster than ever…