Titmus shrugs off heat defeat to American great Ledecky
Ariarne Titmus isn’t sure about the motive of American swim legend Katie Ledecky, who tasted success in their entree to a main course of the Paris Olympics.
And nor does the Australian ace care after racing Ledecky in a women’s 400m freestyle heat on Saturday morning.
Titmus led for 350 metres before Ledecky produced a swift last lap to finish first and secure lane four for Saturday night’s hyped final.
Was the American great trying to send Titmus a message?
“Maybe. I don’t know,” Titmus said.
“I don’t try to look too much into heat swims.
“But she has got lane four, I’ve got lane five, it doesn’t really matter.
“Now it’s all about who can do it tonight.”
Ledecky clocked four minutes 02.19 seconds with Titmus next-best through the heats in 4:02.46.
Canadian teen Summer McIntosh (4:02.65) swam in the different heat and was fourth-fastest qualifier for the medal race with New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather (4:02.55) third-quickest.
Earlier on the opening day of competition at the Paris pool, Australia’s most decorated Olympian Emma McKeon cruised into the women’s 100m butterfly semi-finals.
Five-time gold medallist McKeon was fifth-fastest through the heats in 56.79 seconds with her Dolphins teammate Alexandria Perkins (57.46) the eighth-quickest qualifier for the semis.
Perkins is one of three Australian swimmers coached by Michael Palfrey, who is remaining in Paris despite causing anger in the Dolphins camp for his inflammatory interview with Korean media.
Palfrey told Korean television he wanted South Korea’s Kim Woo-min to win the men’s 400m freestyle – an event featuring Australian medal prospects Sam Short and Elijah Winnington.
Perkins brushed off the furore, saying it has no impact on her.
“No, I’m here to do a job and that is swim, so that is all I am focused on,” she said.
Short will swim against Kim in a heat of the men’s 400m freestyle later Saturday morning.
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