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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Kieran Pender in Paris

Tick, tick … boom: how ‘goofy girl’ Ariarne Titmus became an Olympic great

Australia’s Ariarne Titmus poses with her gold medal after winning the 400m freestyle final on day one
Australia’s Ariarne Titmus poses with her swimming gold medal after winning the 400m freestyle final at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images

Ariarne Titmus likes to think she is ordinary. “I just look at myself and I’m so normal,” she said on Saturday night, mere moments after winning the marquee race of the Paris Olympics swim meet. Or moments after that: “I hope no-one looks at me any differently – I’m just the same old goofy Tassie girl, out here living out her dream.”

Only Titmus is not ordinary. Far from it. She is extraordinary.

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