The athletes in yellow and green certainly made their presence felt at the Paris Olympics, leaving a lasting impression with a remarkable haul of 53 medals that propelled Australia to fourth place on the medal tally. This year, the Aussies were in blazing form, but it was the women who truly stole the show, contributing to 30 of those hard-earned medals. Riding high on their collective success, Australia’s female athletes are basking in well-deserved glory.

And why shouldn’t they be? With standout performances from stars like Ariarne Titmus, who managed to dethrone the legendary Katie Ledecky in both the 400m freestyle and the 4x200m women’s relay, they have every reason to celebrate. But Titmus wasn’t the only one to shine; she was joined by a powerhouse team of gold-winning Aussie women. Now, one of those champions has stepped forward, ready to raise a toast to her fellow athletes and their extraordinary accomplishments.

As the world watched, these fierce competitors proved that Australia’s women are a force to be reckoned with, dominating the Olympic stage and capturing hearts with their relentless spirit and indomitable will. Their achievements in Paris were nothing short of spectacular, and their celebration is a testament to the strength and unity of this incredible team.

Nina Kennedy appreciates the women’s power show in Paris

Defeating her American counterpart Katie Moon, Nina Kennedy’s 4.90m mark was unbeaten at Stade de France. Earning the crown of being the first Australian women pole vaulter to have won an Olympic gold at the Olympics, her accomplishment added a special feather to her cap as a sportsperson. And now, just a day before she participated in the Rome Diamond League, the 27-year-old hailed all her fellow Aussie women. In the Wanda DL press conference she said, “We, the girls dominated in Paris.”

Unveiling the rationale behind this, Kennedy said, “Umm, I don’t know I just you know in the swimming and the athletics, you know everyone basically was female so. I think in Australia, a lot of our men go to sports like rugby and cricket and AFL, so, I think they’re whipped away quite early, they’re paid quite a lot. And the female athletes go more down that Olympic route. But, yeah, we did awesome.” 

When Kennedy mentions swimming, it’s impossible not to think of Ariarne Titmus making waves at the La Defense Arena, where she dethroned the legendary Katie Ledecky in spectacular fashion. With an electrifying swim, Titmus clocked in at 3:57.49, securing gold and leaving Ledecky, the American powerhouse, trailing in third with a time of 4:00.86. Not only did Titmus defend her Tokyo Olympic title, but she also reaffirmed her dominance in the 400m freestyle, proving once again she’s the one to beat.

But Titmus didn’t stop there. In the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay, her blistering final leg catapulted the Australian team to victory, touching the wall in a record-breaking 7:38.08. This not only set a new Olympic record but also marked Australia’s first win in the event since the 2008 Beijing Games. Despite a fierce charge from Ledecky, who led the American team to a silver finish, Titmus and her squad emerged victorious, taking a 2-1 lead over Ledecky in their thrilling Paris showdown.

So, what did Titmus have to say about outshining one of the greatest swimmers of all time? True to form, her response was humble and full of respect, acknowledging the fierce competition and the honor of competing against a legend like Ledecky. But make no mistake, Titmus’ performances in Paris were a bold statement: she’s here to reign supreme in the pool, and she’s not backing down anytime soon.

Ariarne Titmus on eclipsing Katie Ledecky at the Paris Olympics

Post the 800m final, one where the American, Katie Ledecky triumphed over the others in a new personal best time, Titmus opened up on her commonly perceived arch-nemesis. While she agreed that Ledecky had an extra bit of legs in that race, her champion status was hardly questionable. Titmus said, “She’s an absolute champion. I know how hard it is to defend a title. It’s so much harder to win it a second time and to be on the top for over 12 years is unbelievable.”

Per her interview with Olympics.com, Titmus also agreed to Katie Ledecky’s role in polishing the Australian’s skills as an athlete. Crediting the 21-time world champion Ledecky, she said, “I said to her after the race, she’s made me a better athlete, I totally respect what she has done in this sport, more than anyone else.” 

What do you think of the feat the Australian female Olympians have achieved? Let us know below.

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