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The race of the century, the experts had predicted. The women’s 400m freestyle, this Saturday, July 27 at the Paris Défense Arena, was highlighted with a thick line like the first summit, perhaps the highest perched, of the Olympic swimming events. A final for history. A clash of talents and generations. To follow without missing a crumb. The reason? The casting. Eight finalists, like all the events on the program, but three to be discarded from the lot like so many rare pearls. A trio to make a screenwriter dream, each embodying an archetype of a specimen of the pools.
Ariarne Titmus, the Australian from Launceston, Tasmania, reigning Olympic champion, world record holder (3′55′’38), undefeated over the distance since 2019. The favourite, for all swimming connoisseurs, but also for herself. “Adversity no longer disturbs me, she likes to tell. I know I have a head start.” Her self-confidence can be annoying. She doesn’t care and moves on.
Katie Ledecky, the American with ten Olympic medals, including seven gold. For many, the greatest swimmer in history. Revealed at 15, at the London 2012 Games, by a victory in the 800m. Twenty-seven years old since March, but still strong enough to brush aside the competition. A model of wisdom and humility, choosing her words with patience, without ever trying to overdo it.
Summer McIntosh, finally, the new child prodigy. Seventeen years old but already eight world medals in her treasure chest. At the Tokyo 2020 Games, she was the youngest selected for Team Canada, of all sports. Rather intimidating. “You are here to learn,” her relatives had told her. In terms of learning, the kid from Ontario brought home two fourth places, in the 400 m and in the 4×200 m relay. Amazing.
Titmus from start to finish
Since 2014, the 400m world record has not escaped any of these three swimmers. Katie Ledecky, the eldest of the group, has long made it her property. Ariarne Titmus dispossessed her of it, before Summer McIntosh got her hands on it in the spring of 2023. But the Australian took it back four months later, at the world championships in Fukuoka.
With such a poster, the race could have given itself time before making its choice. Designate a lane, then change it. Hesitate, in short. She could have, but she preferred a more straightforward scenario. Ariarne Titmus in the lead from the first length, then again at the 100m wall, halfway and finally at the finish. The Australian never saw a single wave form in front of her. She won in 3′57′’49, far from her world record. Behind, Summer McIntosh clung to her eddy like a mussel on the hull of a raft. Second from start to finish. Her first Olympic medal, probably not her last, the young Canadian being entered in five events.
“Higher pressure”
Katie Ledecky, who was too quickly distanced, steered her boat cautiously, confident enough in her end of the race to let herself slip into fourth position. The American finished the exercise with a final sprinter’s length. She won the bronze medal, the eleventh of her career at the Olympic Games. A taster before tackling her two special hunting grounds, the 800 m and the 1500 m.
“A relief, recognized Ariarne Titmus as he emerged from the pool. And a stronger emotion than for my first Olympic title at the Tokyo 2021 Games. With the noise, the atmosphere, the pressure, the life in the athletes’ village, performances are more difficult at the Olympic Games than elsewhere. To be honest, I probably felt a pressure for this race greater than anything I have experienced so far.”
With her medal in her pocket, the Australian had a word for her American rival. “I admire Katie a lot, both as an athlete and as a person, recognized Ariarne Titmus. “Swimming against her is always an honor.” Respect, certainly, but only up to the starting block.
Source: www.liberation.fr
