Katie Ledecky On Australia’s Ariarne Titmus, “I Wouldn’t Consider it a Rivalry” (Day 1 Quotes)

2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

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• Prelims Live Recaps: Day 1
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Lukas Maertens of Germany won the first gold swimming medal a the 2024 Olympic Games. Maertens swam to a final time of a 3:41.78, just off his personal best of a 3:40.33 which had just missed the World Record of a 3:40.07 set in 2009. The men’s 400 freestyle currently stands as the oldest World Record.

Maertens spoke about his near-miss of the record and instead looks to celebrate the gold medal.

“A lot of people expected the record to fall – I don’t give a sh*t, I am on top now. I was right at the front the whole time and still made it to the finish. That wasn’t the case in the last few years. I let myself be beaten there. Not this time.”

Finishing behind Maertens was Elijah Winnington of Australia who swam to silver. Winnington was the only finalist tonight in the heat that also made the final at the 2020 Tokyo Games. After a 7th place finish in Tokyo, Winnington rebounded this year.

“Unbelievable. Three years ago I was in the exact same lane, lane six, and I bombed out and came seventh.”

Also highlighting the night was the showdown between Ariarne Titmus (Australia), Summer McIntosh (Canada), and Katie Ledecky (USA). All three have held the women’s 400 free World Record at some point in their careers.

Titmus defended her Olympic title tonight. “I hope it goes to show, anyone can do what they want to do if they work hard and believe in themselves. And here I am, from little old Launie (Launceston), a town of 90,000, and I’m out here living the dream, so I hope that inspired kids back home.”

Ledecky and Titmus were seen in friendly conversation before the final, despite the Australian and USA rivalry. Ledecky does not consider it a rivalry. “I wouldn’t consider it a rivalry, I think it’s a friendship if anything. We have a lot of respect for each other, and we love competing against each other,” Ledecky said. “It brings the best out of each of us and pushes each of us in training, knowing that we have each other to race these kinds of meets.”

Great Britain’s Adam Peaty will look to earn his third straight Olympic gold in the men’s 100 breaststroke. He was the 2nd fastest of prelims this morning and swam the top time in semifinals, earning him lane 4 tomorrow night. Peaty also is the World Record holder in the event but missed the 2022 and 2023 World Championships.

“Tonight was just like business, so just getting out there, enjoying the crowd, and the adrenaline- it’s put me in the best lane for the final. So we’ll see what we get there tomorrow,” Peaty said.

The US women closed the night with a silver medal in the 4×100 freestyle relay, setting a new American record in the process. Simone Manuel was the only swimmer on tonight’s relay that also was on the former-American record setting relay from the 2019 World Championships.

“It feels good to be back here. I didn’t know if I would ever be performing at this level again,” Manuel said. “So just to kind of have the full-circle moment of being on this relay again from 2021 to now, but just in a happier and healthier place, I think is really special.”