Australia’s Ariarne Titmus emerged as a standout swimmer during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Queensland resident brought home two golds, one silver, and a bronze. Four years after becoming a multiple-time Olympic medalist, the 23-year-old locked in the idea in Paris by setting a new 200m freestyle world record. Yet, success would’ve stayed out of reach if it weren’t for her parents.

Born to Steve and Robyn Titmus on September 7th, 2000, Ariarne and her younger sibling Mia grew up in the small town of Launceston, Tasmania. The sisters grew up as spirited and active kids who rode horses and explored the Tasmanian countryside. Since Mr. and Mrs. Titmus had a history of playing sports as youngsters, they encouraged their elder daughter to start swimming. It was the right move, as they would soon realize their daughter’s innate talent.

Meet Ariarne Titmus’s ever-supportive family

Titmus’s father, Steve, is a sports enthusiast who used to participate in not just one but two sports. Mr. Titmus played volleyball and cricket as a youth. Meanwhile, Robyn Titmus, the Olympic medalist’s mother, was into track and field. As their elder daughter mastered swimming, she started winning local competitions. Yet, while many parents may have been content with just that, the Titmus family took a drastic decision.

Steve and Robyn Titmus understood that Ariarne Titmus could only go so far in Tasmania. She would need better coaching and facilities if she were to shine. So the parents moved to Gold Coast, Australia, and though her parents weren’t strapped for cash, the Olympian’s father became a respected news anchor relatively quickly. However, that doesn’t mean that they didn’t need to make sacrifices for the future of their firstborn.

Moving from Tasmania to Queensland was a life-altering event. The family also discovered that the diet, training, and lifestyle of an elite athlete were completely different from those of the rest of the family and quite expensive. “You understand that the grocery bill is probably going to be triple most families,” Robyn Titmus expressed during a 2021 ABC Everyday interview. However, the couple left no stone unturned to support the Cali Condors athlete. Backed by strong foundations, Ariarne grew into a talented swimmer.

Ariarne Titmus’s dedication and her parents’ compromises finally bore fruit at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The event became the stage where Katie Ledecky’s rival won her first international medal at just 17 years of age, earning gold in the 400m and 800m freestyle events and silver in the 4x200m relay. Besides her mother and father, another person who has always encouraged the 23-year-old is her younger sister, Mia.

Two years younger than her Olympian sister, Mia Titmus often appears on her sister’s social media posts. However, the younger Titmus sister likes to keep a low profile on social media, which is evident in her Instagram profile, which is set to private with a bio that reads “21’ Aussie.” However, we do know that, unlike the 4x world champion, Mia Titmus didn’t pursue swimming or any other competitive sport.

It’s clear that Ariarne Titmus has the best support system any athlete could ever ask for. Yet, there’s one thing that her mother, father, and sister waited for four years to do. With the champion swimmer making the Australian Olympic swim team, her family members finally have the opportunity to fulfill that dream.

Always beside their daughter’s side

When Ariarne Titmus won four medals in her Olympic debut, the Titmus family’s joy knew no bounds. Steve, a 7NEWS presenter, co-anchored the Gold Coast news channel’s 2020 Olympics coverage in a moment filled with pride—not just for him but for the entire nation. Unfortunately, he and the rest of his family had to watch their daughter make their nation proud thousands of miles away from Tokyo, thanks to the COVID-19 restrictions.

With the coronavirus out of the picture this year, the Olympian’s family will be heading to Paris. Yet, the Titmus trio had to face considerable difficulties. After the Olympic Swimming Trials, the country blindsided its athletes, saying there was no guarantee parents would get tickets. But having missed the opportunity to attend their daughter’s Olympic debut, they were now determined to get tickets for Paris by hook or by crook.

Ultimately, Steve Titmus paid a whopping $20,000 (AUD) for three tickets to the City of Love. Ariarne Titmus earned four Olympic medals in an empty stadium in Tokyo, and for her family, the only window to the event was through the TV cameras. But this time the star swimmer will see her parents and sister every time she glances at the stands inside París La Défense Arena in the French Capital.