2024 Paris Olympics: Australia’s Ariarne Titmus wins ‘Race of the Century’; Katie Ledecky grabs bronze

PARIS — Australia’s Ariarne Titmus outpaced Katie Ledecky and Canadian phenom Summer McIntosh to win gold in the women’s 400-meter freestyle here at the Olympics on Saturday.

In the first high-profile swimming showdown of the 2024 Games, a battle of the last three world record holders in the event, Titmus, the current holder, led wire to wire and touched first in 3:57.49.

McIntosh won silver in 3:58.37. Ledecky, a giant of the sport, took bronze in 4:00.86.

The three-way duel that had been hyped by some as the “Race of the Century” finished how most people in the sport expected it would: with Titmus, the reigning Olympic champ, still atop the world.

The Tasmanian “Terminator,” as she became known as a teen, had already dethroned Ledecky. She exploded onto the scene, into her prime, just in time for the postponed Tokyo Games in 2021. On the opening weekend of that meet, at age 20, she became the first woman to beat Ledecky in an Olympic race.

And three years later, on another opening weekend, in another 400, she did it again.

In their preliminary heat Saturday morning, Ledecky chased down Titmus over the final 100 meters to claim the top seed. Her closing speed sent murmurs through the assembled press and fans here: Could the 27-year-old Ledecky, perhaps, turn back time and reclaim her throne? Might the “Race of the Century” actually live up to its hype?

But Titmus, now 23, was unbothered.

“I mean, I don’t try to look too much into heat swims,” she said. She didn’t know whether Ledecky was trying to send a message with the late morning change (Ledecky said she wasn’t); Titmus didn’t particularly care.

She has grown, over the past three years, from upstart to seasoned professional. She is the calm catalyst of an Australian team that many expect to challenge the U.S. for the top of the swimming medal table. And she took care of business in the first head-to-head clash between the two swimming powers. She’ll also be favored to win gold in Monday’s 200-meter freestyle.

Ledecky, meanwhile, is still very much on track for a history-making Olympics. She was an underdog in this race. She’ll be favored over Titmus at 800 meters. She’s still unbeaten and untouchable at 1500.

If Ledecky wins both of those, plus a medal in the 4×200 relay, she’ll become the most decorated female U.S. Olympian ever, and the most decorated female swimmer ever. Coming up short in the 400 doesn’t change or impede any of that.