Ariarne Titmus lifts the lid on 'inappropriate' messages she's received after Paris Olympics
The Australian swimming champion has only just gotten back on social media after the Games.
Aussie swimming champion Ariarne Titmus has revealed she's received 'weird' and 'inappropriate' messages on social media after arriving back in Australia after the Paris Olympics. Titmus won two gold and two silver medals in Paris, and beat great American rival Katie Ledecky in the 400m freestyle in one of the moments of the Games.
But the golden girl of Australian swimming has revealed how her fame has sparked some interesting activity on her social media accounts. Speaking on Nova 96.9’s 'Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie' on Thursday morning, Titmus was asked about her self-imposed social media ban heading into the Olympics.
When asked how many messages she received when she got back online she said: "I haven't gone through many of them, but when I logged back on it was just like a notification bubble for every single notification - 100, 100, 100 just flashing. I've gone through a few of the DMs and there's been some real wild ones."
When asked if there were any proposals she said: "No, but some of them make me think to myself 'what makes you think you could you write that to someone? [They are] inappropriate, but I got some good giggles. But I think geez, you're an odd cat."
Ariarne Titmus to take break from swimming after Paris heroics
Speaking before the Games, the 23-year-old said she'd taken a break from social media so she could focus. “I will definitely be off social media for the whole week of racing in Paris,” Titmus said.
“There’s so much noise and activity and there’s a lot to absorb and it’s just very taxing. During the Olympics, I will definitely be off it … it’s a lot of external pressure sometimes if you’re on it all the time.” And Thursday morning's revelation shows that was probably a good decision.
Titmus is taking an extended break from swimming after her heroics in the pool in Paris and doesn't plan on getting back into the sport for a good 12 months. Speaking ahead of her return to Australia, she admitted she might not even make herself available for the world championships in August next year.
“I’m definitely having a very extended break,” she said. “I haven’t planned when I’m going back to swimming. I want to go back when I feel ready to go back. Could be up to 12 months. I just want to make sure I’m ready to go in LA (for the 2028 Olympics). I don’t want to come back too early and, you know, lose that fire, I guess.
"I think four years is a long time, so I want to prepare myself the best for those Olympic Games. For me, that’s the priority, not world championships in the years prior. So I just want to really have time to let the hunger build back up and enjoy myself for a little while.”
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Titmus' next challenge will be taking down Ledecky in her home pool. The Aussie continued her incredible rivalry wit the American in Paris, beating her again after dethroning Ledecky in the 400m in Tokyo in 2021.
The American legend still won two golds in other events in Paris, and Titmus thanked Ledecky for pushing her to be the best in the world upon her return to Australia on Wednesday. “There’s definitely an unreal rivalry in the pool and I think we get the best out of each other,” she said. “I wouldn’t be the athlete I am without her, but beyond that, we have massive respect for each other.
“I, more than anyone, know what she has to do to be the best in the world, and I think she knows what I’ve done to get to the top. We always chat to each other before we go to races – even the 400 freestyle – and there’s no animosity at all. That’s pretty special.”
with agencies
