Ended Again: Titmus Hands Ledecky Another Olympic Defeat, Wins Gold in 400 Freestyle

Ledecky, 27, has still won six individual gold medals in her brilliant career, which remains the most for any female swimmer in Olympic history.

But she couldn’t find the speed to chase after Titmus.

“I just didn’t have it going the last 200 or 250 the way I wanted to,” Ledecky said. “I felt like my first 150 was pretty good. I was moving with the pack and felt like I was in range. I just couldn’t get into the next gear that I wanted to finish.”

The Australian women also claimed their fourth consecutive gold medal in the women’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay, quickly taking a lead over their American rivals. The US, however, ended the night on a high note when Caeleb Dressel led the men’s team to victory in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay.

Olympic Games in Paris

It was the eighth medal of Dressel’s career — all gold. He won five at the Tokyo Games, and he could be preparing for another glittering haul in the City of Light.

On deck after the medal ceremony, Dressel hugged his 5-month-old son, August, with tears streaming down his face. It was a particularly satisfying moment for a generational swimmer who fell out of love with his sport after Tokyo, prompting him to take an extended break.

“It takes me back to my first gold,” said the 27-year-old Dressel. “It really doesn’t get old.”

Titmus, 23, now has three individual Olympic victories on her growing resume, having won the 200 and 400 freestyle in Tokyo and is favourite to do the same in Paris.

Ledecky isn’t done yet either. She missed a chance to face Titmus again in the 200 freestyle, but the American is the favorite to take gold in both the 800 and 1,500.

And McIntosh? She’ll be a familiar face in the coming week, too. She’s the world record holder in the 400-meter individual medley and had two races on opening night, returning to swim on the Canadian relay team that finished fourth.

“I’m just happy to get the result for myself and I feel so honoured to be part of the race and to be alongside legends like Katie,” Titmus said. “I look up to her so much as an athlete and it’s definitely not a rivalry outside of the races. I really respect her as a person.”

Ledecky also dismissed any rumors of a rivalry.

“It’s more of a friendship,” Ledecky said. “We have a lot of respect for each other and we love competing against each other. It brings out the best in all of us and I’m sure it motivates all of us to train knowing that we have each other to compete in these types of events.”

In the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay, the Australian quartet of Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, Emma McKeon and Meg Harris set an Olympic record of 3:28.92.

The Americans — Kate Douglass, Gretchen Walsh, Torri Huske and Simone Manuel — came back to take silver in 3:30.20, one-tenth of a second ahead of China.

It was the first swimming medal for China, a country embroiled in controversy after it emerged that nearly two dozen swimmers tested positive for a banned substance in the run-up to the Tokyo Olympics but were not punished.

Two members of their bronze-winning team, Zhang Yufei and Yang Junxuan, were on that list.

In the men’s relay, the two youngsters who beat Dressel at the U.S. trials in the 100-meter freestyle, Jack Alexy and Chris Guiliano, started for the Americans. Then it was Hunter Armstrong who rode the fastest leg of all, giving Dressel a commanding lead to work with at the end.

He won in a time of 3:09.28, raising his teammates in the air and clapping their hands when he saw another number 1 next to their names.

“Honestly, relays are a little bit more special,” Dressel said. “It’s really special to be on the podium with these guys and see the flag go up. I’m so proud of them. It made my job easier.”

Australia, led by Kyle Chalmers, took silver in 3:10.35, while bronze went to Italy in 3:10.70.

Germany’s Lukas Märtens won the first gold medal in swimming at these Games, beating three world champions in the men’s 400m freestyle.

Märtens set a blazing pace in the first 300 meters and held on until the end to cross the finish line in 3:41.78. Silver went to Elijah Winnington of Australia, the 2022 world champion, in 3:42.21. Reigning world champion Kim Woo-win of South Korea had to settle for bronze in 3:42.50.

Ledecky posted the fastest qualifying time in the morning heats, but Titmus clearly saved himself for the race that mattered most.

In the evening she ran almost 5 seconds faster, while in the morning Ledecky ran less than 1 1/2 seconds faster.

“I hope we put on a good show tonight,” said Titmus, “and that everyone enjoyed it.”

I have no complaints about the Terminator at all.