Ariarne Titmus at Paris 2024 Olympics: Showdown with Katie Ledekcy on the cards - swimming schedule, event list and times

Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus will look to defend her 200m and 400m freestyle Olympic titles at the Paris 2024 swimming competition with her campaign beginning on July 27.

Ariarne Titmus, who won four medals in her debut Olympic campaign at Tokyo 2020, will face seven-time Olympic gold medallist Katie Ledekcy of the USA in the much-anticipated women’s 400m and 800m freestyle events in the pools of the Paris La Defense Arena.

In the women’s 200m freestyle final at Tokyo 2020, Titmus won the gold medal after setting an Olympic swimming record of 1:53.50 while the then-defending Olympic champion Katie Ledecky finished fifth.

Ariarne Titmus also stunned Katie Ledecky in the 400m freestyle final, snatching the Olympic crown from the American swimmer who had to settle for silver in Tokyo.

However, Ledecky succeeded in winning her third consecutive women’s 800m freestyle Olympic gold medal with Titmus finishing second in the event.

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, however, the Ariarne Titmus vs Katie Ledecky showdown will happen only in the 400m and 800m freestyle events as the American swimmer has dropped the 200m in order to focus on the longer distance events.

The duo will be first seen in action in Paris on July 27 with the women’s 400m freestyle heats scheduled on that day. The women’s 400m freestyle final will be held on July 28.

Ariarne Titmus currently holds the world record in women’s 400m freestyle after achieving a time of 3:55.28 at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

In fact, Ledecky, Titmus of Australia and Canadian teen Summer McIntosh have each held the world record in the event over the past Olympic cycle.

Ledecky set the world record at 3:56.46 at the Rio 2016 Olympics, where she also won the gold medal in the event. Titmus broke that record in May 2022 and held it for almost a year until McIntosh improved on the time at the Canadian Trials. Last year, Titmus regained her record-holder status in Fukuoka.

Titmus also set a new world record in women’s 200m freestyle in June 2024 after clocking 1:52.23 at the Australian Olympic Trials in Brisbane.

Ariarne Titmus’ Paris 2024 Olympics swimming schedule

All in Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST)

Where to watch Ariarne Titmus at Paris 2024 Olympics live in Australia

Live streaming of Ariarne Titmus’ swimming events at the Paris 2024 Olympics will be available on 9Now and Stan. The Paris 2024 swimming events, including Ariarne Titmus vs Katie Ledecky, will be broadcast live on the Network Nine TV channels in Australia.