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Fukuoka: Ian Thorpe has declared Canadian teen Summer McIntosh the slight favourite for Sunday’s blockbuster women’s 400 metres freestyle at the swimming world championships in a three-way clash with reigning Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus and American legend Katie Ledecky.
The Dolphins arrived in Fukuoka, Japan – a venue synonymous with Australian success 22 years ago – on Friday afternoon after a training camp in the nearby city of Saga, ready to back up their stellar performances from the Tokyo Olympics two years ago.
The most eagerly anticipated race in Fukuoka is the women’s 400m freestyle, which is scheduled for 9.32pm (AEST) on the opening night of competition.
It will be an engrossing race between three heavyweights of women’s swimming: Titmus, McIntosh and Ledecky. The trio have not raced each other since the Tokyo Olympics, when Titmus stormed home ahead of Ledecky, prompting the Australian’s coach, Dean Boxall, to produce a melodramatic celebration in the stands.
Two years earlier at the 2019 world championships in Gwangju, Titmus announced herself on the international stage by beating Ledecky, who won gold at Rio 2016.
Titmus has not lost a 400m freestyle race for five years – she came second to Ledecky at the 2018 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships – but is no longer the world record holder and faces fierce competition from 16-year-old McIntosh.
Ariarne Titmus after winning her 400m freestyle final at the Australian trials.Credit: Getty
McIntosh fired a warning shot in March, by clocking three minutes, 56.08 seconds at the Canadian trials. It was an improvement of 0.32 seconds on Titmus’ personal best.
Throw in Ledecky’s lifetime best of 3:56.46 and the scene is set for a tantalising eight-lap race that could be talked about for years.
“The trajectory of Summer McIntosh [means] I would have to say she’s going in as favourite in this event,” Thorpe, who won three 400m freestyle world championships gold medals, told this masthead.
“Summer McIntosh has swum exceptionally well, and it’s a bit like the Katie Ledecky situation where Arnie [Titmus] was the up-and-coming swimmer.
“I need to watch both swimmers in the heats. In all fairness, both athletes have the capacity for improvement.
“I saw Summer swim at the world championships in 2022. It was the significant arrival for her on the world stage. She has a really level head and I feel as though the pressure will be building on her in the lead-in to the Olympic Games. This world championships is a bit of a test for her.”
Titmus and McIntosh faced the world’s media on Friday, two days out from their first showdown since the latter finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics as a 14-year-old.
The Australian was relaxed and gave longer answers, in contrast to her Canadian rival who gave little away as her coach, Brent Arckey, watched from the back of the press conference room.
Summer McIntosh at the world swimming championships in Fukuoka.Credit: AP
McIntosh is swimming in four individual events in Fukuoka: the 200m and 400m freestyle, the 200m butterfly and 400m individual medley.
“After breaking the world record, nothing has really changed,” McIntosh said. “I don’t really like to focus on expectations on anyone other than myself. It’s irrelevant when it comes to that. I don’t feel outside pressure. I don’t focus on it, but it’s obviously there. At the end of the day, all I can do is try my hardest.”
Pundits are already calling the women’s 400m freestyle at the 2024 Olympics the race of the century.
While Sunday’s result is important to Titmus, she is aware of the bigger picture.
“I haven’t looked into the hype around it,” she said. “I feel lucky to be part of it.
“Summer reminds me a bit of me at her age. I was completely fearless going up against Katie as a 17-year-old. I was never afraid to take it to her. I feel like Summer is the same. What she is doing is amazing. It’s exciting for the sport.
“I feel lucky to have been a world-record holder. It doesn’t change how I am going to race.
“It’s exciting for the sport. I wish I could watch from the outside. I think this is the first time since the Olympics that I am really feeling the buzz to race. I am raring to go.”
Meanwhile, Australian duo Sam Short and Elijah Winnington are big chances for medals in the men’s 400m freestyle, which is the opening event of the program.
Ariarne Titmus after beating Katie Ledecky in the women’s 400m freestyle final at the Tokyo Olympics. Credit: Getty Images
The Australian team hasn’t gone one-two in the event since Thorpe and Grant Hackett did so in 2003.
“That’s entirely feasible,” Thorpe said of an Australian quinella. “What’s best about this race … is the benefit of having someone else in your country that is able to produce these kinds of performances at state championships and nationals. The standard goes up.”
Coming off nine gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics, Australia could make it a double-digit haul of golds for the first time since 2005.
Thorpe won six gold medals at Fukuoka in 2001 as Australia topped the medal tally for the first time over America.
“I think they will go close [to 10 golds],” Thorpe said. “We have a strong team … our results in Japan [at the Olympics] were tremendous. That can continue. There’s really established swimmers and there’s athletes who are ready to put their mark on the world.
“For athletes, this is their last international test. This is where you find the motivation to find that level that you might need for an Olympic Games.”
Watch the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka live on Channel Nine & 9Now.
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