“Comes With…”- Swimming Star Ariarne Titmus Finally Opens Up on Real Reason for Skipping Duel With Rival Katie Ledecky

Although fans enjoy rivalry in sports, it might put undue stress on the athletes. The demand for frequent showdowns between rivals can be taxing on both athletes, which may lead to poor performances. Recently, Ariarne Titmus opened up about a similar situation she has faced since the recent Olympic Games.

Ariarne famously took the lead on Ledecky in the 400m and 200m freestyle events, regarded as Katie’s mainstays, at the Tokyo Olympics. Furthermore, the young swimmer also raised eyebrows after smashing Ledecky’s 400m freestyle world record at the Australian Swimming Championships on May 22nd.

Rivalry with Katie Ledecky proving stressful for Titmus

Following her debut at the Tokyo Olympics, people hailed Titmus as the compeer of the swimming GOAT. However, living up to people’s expectations can be taxing, especially when compared to the greatest in that sport.

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Similarly, the prospect of competing with the GOAT and emerging victorious can amount to increased mental stress. Therefore, the Australian Olympic champion is finding it challenging to cope with the stress of having a re-match with Ledecky.

She has attributed this mental pressure as the cause of her reluctance to compete in the upcoming world championships in Budapest.

Expounding on the matter, Titmus said, “Last year was huge for me, mentally too, a lot of pressure around my races. I didn’t really want to have to deal with that pressure again (at Budapest).”

Will Ariarne Titmus compete at Duel in the Pool?

The swimmer has also hinted at the likelihood of missing the Duel in the Pool meet in Sydney. The meet was originally conducted between 2003 and 2007 after the successful hosting of the Sydney Olympics. However, the swimming meet resumes this year in August.

Speaking to reporters, Titmus said, “Still deciding on Duel in the Pool.”

“I know people are looking to see if I’ll be racing Katie, it’s always a very highly anticipated battle,” the swimmer said, emphasizing that fans of the sport are eagerly waiting for a re-match.

“But the battle with her comes with external pressure,” added Ariarne.

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The rivalry between Titmus and Ledecky was the source of much debate during the Tokyo Olympics last year. For one, it was Titmus’ debut meet. Besides, she outperformed Ledecky in two of her mainstays to win gold in both events. Additionally, she secured one silver and a bronze, bringing her Olympic medal tally to four on her first meet.