Ariarne Titmus' absence in spotlight as teammate drops sad news on swimming world
Aussie swim sensation Ariarne Titmus has continued her absence from the pool having skipped the national championships in Brisbane this week amid a well-earned break from the sport. And Mollie O'Callaghan has revealed the extent of her recovery from a brutal knee dislocation she suffered earlier this year.
After the Paris Olympics last June, Titmus confirmed she would be taking time away from the sport to rest and rejuvenate herself. The four-time Olympic gold medallist ruled out competing in the World Swimming Championships in Singapore later this year as she focuses on setting up her life after retirement.
Titmus was in attendance at the Laureus World Sport Awards in Madrid this week at the same time as her teammates were battling it out in the pool at the Australian Open championships. She was nominated for the Sports Comeback of the Year award, but missed out on the gong.
Amid Titmus' absence, two-time Olympic gold medallist O'Callaghan confirmed her struggles after returning to the pool as she recovers from a knee dislocation. O'Callaghan won the 200m freestyle event in Paris having pipped Titmus to the title.
And while she is still favourite for the event on Thursday, the 21-year-old has revealed the brutal toll a recent injury has taken on her training. O'Callaghan finished second in the 50m backstroke final and third in the 400m final on Wednesday night. She did manage to win the 100m final in 53.12 seconds.
While she is relieved to have returned to competition, O'Callaghan said she feels hampered by a lingering knee injury from back in January. "I think at the stage where I am right now ... the past couple of months have been the hardest for me, especially rehabbing, and I'm still rehabbing, illness, my bad knee, so I'm not fully there yet," O'Callaghan said to reporters. "It's kind of like I'm kicking with one leg at the moment and in circles pretty much. It's just been frustrating, the build-up to this."
O'Callaghan admitted she has not been able to properly prepare for the Australian Open Swimming Championships, with coach Dean Boxall in Brisbane helping her ease back into competition. But the 21-year-old star admitted she is enjoying the event without the added pressure.
"It's been nice to come here and lean on my experience," she said. "I haven't done that much training or main sessions; it's been quite modified. The process has been quite long so far.
"So to come here and just swim for the sake of swimming [and with] no pressure behind it, no pressure on outcome, [was nice]. It was just about coming here, racing, getting my first race of the year out of the way, and seeing where I'm tracking along."
Titmus decided to take extended leave after winning two gold and two silver medals at the Paris Olympics last year, citing the need for a physical and mental break. The 24-year-old has certainly kept herself busy outside of the pool and has been seen working on Channel Nine's coverage of the Australian Open tennis, interviewing fans and performing other media duties for the network.
Titmus revealed she will return to swimming training in July, but will skip the World Swimming Championships as she eases back into competition. The Aussie said she's been "working pretty hard" on various things but is enjoying the sleep-ins and extra time spent with family and friends during her well-earned break.
'The plan is to get back in July. 'I've spoken to [coach] Dean [Boxall] about that. He said to get moving in July, I may have to start doing a little bit in the water at the end of May. That's definitely the plan," she told.
Titmus confirmed she her main goal will be the 2028 Olympics. 'When you're at the tail-end of your career, the Olympics just become so much more important. I'll be going back to training to be able to gear up for LA. It's the Olympic Games that now my eyes are on," she added.
'Comeback of the Year' nominee Ariarne Titmus in attendance at the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid ✨Proud of all our amazing athletes who were nominated this year, and congratulations to the winners!#Swimming pic.twitter.com/yiKahzY6Q8
— World Aquatics (@WorldAquatics) April 22, 2025
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