Ariarne Titmus, the Australian swimmer who snagged two golds and two silvers at the Paris Olympics back in August, shared that she might take up to a year off to recharge. While it seems like a straightforward decision, some people wonder if there’s more to it. Despite her incredible achievements in Paris, she was overlooked for a prestigious award that went to her teammate Kaylee McKeown instead. After that disappointment, she announced her plans for a “break” from swimming, leaving many to speculate about what might really be behind her choice.

Titmus looked at a potential hiatus of up to a year, wanting to step away and recharge before gearing up for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. “I want to make sure I’m ready to go in LA. I don’t want to come back too early and lose that fire,” she shared, emphasizing the importance of mental readiness over rushing back into competition.

During her time away, Ariarne Titmus is eager to let her motivation build back up. She even expressed excitement about the fierce competition awaiting her return, but in the next Olympics. But now, it seems there’s a clearer picture of the reasons behind her break. While enjoying the beach in Tasmania, she shared an Instagram post saying, “The untouched beauty of Tassie is unmatched. The past week back home was just what the doctor ordered.” It’s clear that taking this time off has allowed her to reconnect with her roots and recharge. Looking at the Los Angeles Olympics, fans are eager to see what she’ll bring back to the pool.

The LA Olympics will be thrilling, especially with Titmus’ rival, American Katie Ledecky. Ledecky also expressed her intention to compete in a fifth Olympics. This sets the stage for more exciting races between the two. “It’s always exciting racing the best in the world, and I think we get the best out of each other,” Titmus noted, highlighting the competitive spirit they share. She added, “It’s more satisfying racing a champion like her and being successful than not. So I think it’d be crazy for her not to try and keep going for her home games.” But the question comes: why was Ariarne Titmus overlooked in Paris?

Ariarne Titmus’s omission raises eyebrows at the Swimming Australia awards

During the glitzy Swimming Australia Awards held at Brisbane’s Howard Smith Wharves, the country’s top aquatic stars came together to celebrate their outstanding performances at the Paris Games. Yet, amidst the celebrations, Ariarne Titmus stood out as a notable absence among the top honorees. Instead, her teammate Kaylee McKeown, who also had an impactful Olympic campaign, was named the Olympic Program Swimmer of the Year.

While McKeown’s accomplishments—two individual golds, one silver, and two bronzes at the Olympics—were historic and deserving of recognition, many questioned why Titmus, with her own glittering achievements, did not receive similar accolades.

Other notable swimmers, including Tim Hodge, who was awarded Paralympic Program Swimmer of the Year for his gold medal in the 200-meter medley SM9, and Moesha Johnson, who earned Open Water Swimmer of the Year after her silver in the 10km marathon swim, were celebrated for their efforts in making Australia proud. The absence of Ariarne Titmus at the awards raised eyebrows and sparked discussions about whether she had been overlooked in favor of her teammates.