Let’s begin with the conclusion. On the second-to-last day of the Olympic swim meet, Australia upheld its impressive performance by securing a silver medal for Ariarne Titmus, a bronze for Kaylee McKeown, and another bronze in the mixed medley relay. However, these results overshadow a thrilling evening in the pool, where Australians were central to the excitement. The highlight was undoubtedly the race between Titmus and American swimming star Katie Ledecky.
In recent years, their rivalry has become a major narrative in international swimming. This contest had it all: two nations with a historic rivalry, a dramatic backstory, and significant showdowns in the 200m, 400m, and 800m freestyle events.
In Tokyo, Titmus showcased her dominance in the shorter distances, taking Ledecky’s titles in the 200m and 400m. However, she fell short against her competitor in the longer 800m event. In Paris, their matchups effectively framed the meet: the 400m on the first night and the 800m on the penultimate evening.
Titmus won the first round decisively. The Australian also claimed intermediate points as the Dolphins triumphed over the United States in the women’s 4x200m relay on Thursday night. On Saturday, at La Défense Arena, Titmus aimed for victory, taking on Ledecky in her preferred race.
This led to an electrifying showdown, with both competitors matching each other stroke for stroke. Ledecky started aggressively, seeking to distance herself from her rival. Yet, Titmus displayed fierce determination, staying within a body length of Ledecky for the initial segment of the race.
For more than ten years, Ledecky has been the unrivaled champion of this event. She captured Olympic gold as a teenager in London 2012 at just 15 years old. Ledecky defended her title in Rio and again in Tokyo, earning the championship six times and holding the world record up until Saturday night, alongside the next 28 fastest times in history.
After twelve laps, Ledecky’s extraordinary capabilities at this distance prevailed. Although Titmus swam impressively, arguably her best 800m performance, it wasn’t enough to unseat the American. When challenging the queen, one must not fail. Ledecky became only the second swimmer to win an Olympic title across four consecutive Games, joining the legendary Michael Phelps.
The embrace between them at the finish, over the lane divider, encapsulated the moment. This rivalry is built on mutual respect. The crowd erupted in applause, recognizing that they had just witnessed brilliance.
“It’s such an honor to compete alongside Katie,” expressed Titmus. “I was only 11 when she won her gold in London, back in grade six at primary school. It’s astounding to think she continues to excel at this level.
“I hold her in the highest regard. I understand the challenge of defending a title; achieving four in a row is incredible. I gave it my all tonight and I’m proud of my performance. I’m glad it was her who beat me and maintained her winning streak because that’s truly remarkable.”
Titmus set a new Oceania record with her time of 8:12.29, just over a second behind Ledecky. Her compatriot Lani Pallister finished sixth.
Earlier, Kaylee McKeown earned a bronze medal in the women’s 200m individual medley after a dramatic finish. Swimming from lane one following a weary semi-final effort just an hour after winning gold in the 200m backstroke on Thursday, she was second at the halfway point but weakened in the latter part of the race. Ultimately, she finished fourth as Canadian sensation Summer McIntosh won gold in an Olympic record time.
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Just moments later, while some competitors were still in the water, it was revealed that silver medallist Alex Walsh from the United States had been disqualified for her transition from backstroke to breaststroke, promoting McKeown to the podium. The Australian has had her own challenges with officials in this event; last year at the world championships, she was disqualified in the semi-final for a similar transition.
Kaylee McKeown during the 200m individual medley. Photograph: Mast Irham/EPA
McKeown’s teammate Ella Ramsay had been scheduled to swim in the final but withdrew due to illness—another Covid case in the Dolphins camp, with Lani Pallister and Zac Stubblety-Cook also affected this week.
Minutes after receiving her bronze medal in the individual medley ceremony, McKeown returned to lead Australia in the 4x100m mixed medley relay. Joshua Yong took over for Australia at the breaststroke leg, followed by Matthew Temple, who earlier finished seventh in the men’s 100m butterfly final.
Australia was in third place when anchor Mollie O’Callaghan dove in for the freestyle segment. The 20-year-old had both the United States and China in her sights, but despite a strong finish, she couldn’t surpass her opponents. Australia secured their second bronze medal of the evening, while the Americans set a new world record.
