Katie Ledecky made a powerful start in her highly anticipated duel with Ariarne Titmus, setting the fastest time in the women’s 400-meter freestyle preliminaries as the swimming events kicked off at the Paris Olympics on Saturday.
Katie Ledecky faced off against rival Australian Ariarne Titmus
Ledecky secured the coveted No. 4 lane for the evening final with a time of 4:02.19, gearing up for one of the most exciting races of the games.
Australian star Ariarne Titmus, known as “The Terminator,” started strong but couldn’t keep up with Ledecky’s surge in the final lap, finishing with the second-fastest time at 4:02.46. This sets the stage for a thrilling head-to-head in the final.
“I was happy I got a good first swim under the belt,” Ledecky said, expressing her satisfaction with her performance.
Titmus, the reigning Olympic champion in the 400 freestyle, who defeated Ledecky at the Tokyo Games, holds the world record of 3:55.38. Her time in the prelims indicates she’s ready to defend her title.
“It was good just to have a fast swim in the pool, see how it feels, and I’m excited for tonight,” Titmus said, noting that her goal was merely to secure a spot in the middle lanes while conserving energy.
Also in contention is Canadian phenom Summer McIntosh, who posted the fourth-fastest time in the prelims with 4:02.65, just behind New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather (4:02.55).
Chinese swimmers Li Bingjie and Liu Yaxin, who placed ninth and tenth, respectively, failed to advance to the final. Their team has faced scrutiny following reports of nearly two dozen swimmers testing positive for a banned substance before the 2021 Olympics, without facing sanctions.
Katie Ledecky looking to add to her record six individual gold medals
Ledecky is aiming to add to her record of six individual gold medals, the most by any female swimmer in Olympic history, and is a favorite in the 800 and 1,500 freestyle events.
The atmosphere at La Defense Arena in the Paris suburbs was electric, with 15,000 spectators filling the venue known for hosting rugby matches.
“I have never swum in front of a huge crowd that’s firing quite like that,” Titmus remarked. “It’s going to be crazy to see what it’s like tonight for finals.”
In other events, China’s Zhang Yufei led the prelims of the women’s 100 butterfly with a time of 56.50, while world record-holder Gretchen Walsh of the U.S. advanced with the fourth-best time of 56.75. Japan’s Mizuki Hirai and American Torri Huske were close behind, with times of 56.71 and 56.72, respectively. Australia’s Emma McKeon and defending gold medalist Maggie Mac Neil also advanced to the semifinals.
Men’s Swimming Events Results
British swimmer Adam Peaty, returning after a hiatus for mental health, posted a time of 59.18 in the men’s 100 breaststroke, just behind top qualifier Casper Corbeau of the Netherlands (59.04). American Nic Fink also advanced with a time of 59.66.
In the men’s 400 freestyle, top qualifiers included Germany’s Lukas Maertens and Australians Elijah Winnington and Sam Short. South Korea’s Kim Woo-min also made it to the final amidst a minor controversy involving support from an Australian coach.
Australia dominated the preliminaries of the women’s 4×100 freestyle relay, while China led the men’s 4×100 relay. The U.S. men, led by Caeleb Dressel, were narrowly beaten by Australia’s Kyle Chalmers in their heat.
With thrilling matchups and intense competition, the Paris Olympics swimming events promise to deliver unforgettable moments.
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