Shocking Blowout Dominates Highly Anticipated Women’s 400m Freestyle Race

American swimmer Katie Ledecky isn’t done yet after the 400m. She’s still favored to win a pair of longer races later in the competition.

NANTERRE, France — One of the most awaited races of the Paris Olympics unfolded in a stunning outcome.

Ariarne Titmus dominated from start to finish in the 400-meter freestyle, securing victory on a thrilling opening night at La Defense Arena. Known as “Terminator,” the Australian swimmer handed Katie Ledecky a second consecutive Olympic defeat in the event Ledecky won in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. With confidence, Titmus strolled on deck, her nails painted Aussie yellow, smiling and waving to the fans.

Titmus was aware of the challenge ahead with Ledecky in the adjacent lane but appeared unfazed. She proved her prowess, facing stiff competition from Canadian 17-year-old Summer McIntosh, yet winning comfortably in 3:57.49. McIntosh took silver with a time of 3:58.37, while Ledecky finished in bronze position clocking at 4:00.86.

Titmus expressed relief after her win, noting the immense pressure she felt. “My legs are a bit tired, but I’m just relieved more than anything,” she said. Meanwhile, Ledecky, who still boasts six individual Olympic golds, acknowledged she lacked the speed to challenge Titmus in the final stretch.

The Australian women further asserted their dominance by clinching a fourth consecutive gold in the women’s 4×100 freestyle relay. The U.S., however, closed the night on a high with Caeleb Dressel anchoring the men’s team to victory in the 4×100 free relay, marking his eighth gold. Dressel’s moment was particularly poignant as he celebrated with his 5-month-old son, reflecting on his journey post-Tokyo Games.

Titmus now has three individual Olympic victories, and she’s in contention for more in Paris. Ledecky isn’t backing down either and is favored for gold in the 800 and 1,500 meters. Meanwhile, McIntosh shines as the world-record holder in the 400 individual medley.

The Australian quartet set an Olympic record in the women’s 4×100 free relay, while the American team earned silver, narrowly defeating China. Notably, two Chinese team members had been implicated in doping controversies before the Tokyo Olympics.

In the men’s relay, the U.S. team capitalized on strong performances by Jack Alexy, Chris Guiliano, and Hunter Armstrong, giving Dressel a lead he converted into victory. Australia and Italy took silver and bronze, respectively.

Germany’s Lukas Märtens secured the first swimming gold of these Games in the men’s 400 freestyle, defeating three world champions. Märtens maintained a strong pace, winning in 3:41.78, with Australia’s Elijah Winnington and South Korea’s Kim Woo-win securing silver and bronze.

Titmus saved her best performance for the final showdown, going nearly 5 seconds faster than her morning qualifier, emphasizing her dominance in the race. “I hope that we put on a good show tonight,” Titmus said, brimming with satisfaction.