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Olympic Games 2024

OLYMPIC GAMES | SWIMMING

Ledecky aiming for two golds in a day with Titmus in the way

Round two of the Katie Ledecky v Ariarne Titmus rivalry lights up the pool at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday as the U.S. great seeks to add two more gold medals to her career collection of five.

Reuters
TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 26: Katie Ledecky of Team United States competes in heat five of the Women's 1500m Freestyle on day three of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 26, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Im
Tom PenningtonGetty Images

Round two of the Katie Ledecky v Ariarne Titmus rivalry lights up the pool at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday as the U.S. great seeks to add two more gold medals to her career collection of five.

Ledecky starts off with the 200m freestyle, an event for which the reigning champion qualified third fastest with Australia's Titmus leading the way, and returns just over an hour later for the 1,500m free.

The shorter race will be the second big battle between the American and her 400m nemesis, with Titmus lining up in lane four as favourite for her second gold of the Games.

A threat to both is Hong Kong's Siobhan Haughey, a close second in the semis, in lane five.

"It’s not just Katie and I. It’s a very, very strong field. It’s anyone’s race," said Titmus.

Another gold would make Titmus the first Australian woman to complete the 200-400 Olympic double since Shane Gould at the Munich 1972 Games.

TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 26: Katie Ledecky of Team United States competes in heat two of the Women's 200m Freestyle on day three of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 26, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
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TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 26: Katie Ledecky of Team United States competes in heat two of the Women's 200m Freestyle on day three of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 26, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)Tom PenningtonGetty Images

Ledecky is at least the clear favourite for the 1,500, having qualified by far the fastest and also holding the world record. Titmus is also not swimming that one.

The longest women's pool event is new for the Tokyo Games.

Hungarian Katinka Hosszu will try to defend her 200 individual medley title after losing out in the 400 IM while compatriot and world record holder Kristof Milak is the runaway favourite in the men's 200 butterfly.

Hungary's Katinka Hosszu competes in the final of the women's 400m individual medley swimming event during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo on July 25, 2021. (Photo by Attila KISBENEDEK / AFP)
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Hungary's Katinka Hosszu competes in the final of the women's 400m individual medley swimming event during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo on July 25, 2021. (Photo by Attila KISBENEDEK / AFP)ATTILA KISBENEDEKAFP

Tom Dean will be looking for his second gold of the Games in the 4x200 freestyle after Britain were comfortably quickest in the heats.

"We’re just looking so strong, everyone’s doing great splits and I’ve got plenty more in the tank," said Dean, who swam the anchor leg and could afford to ease off at the end.

"It was quite obvious I took my foot off the gas in that back end because it was just about getting the job done tonight, making sure we secure a good lane for the middle of the pool tomorrow in the final."