NANTERRE, France

— Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus clinched her second consecutive gold medal in the women’s 400-meter freestyle at the Paris Olympics, marking the first women’s swimming medal of the Games. The 23-year-old's victory adds to her impressive tally, now totaling three Olympic golds and six medals overall. Titmus expressed relief and happiness after her win, which came despite a minor mishap at the start of the race when she accidentally entered the wrong lane. She is set to compete in additional events, including the 200 and 800-meter freestyles and the 4×200 free relay. Summer McIntosh, the 17-year-old Canadian swimmer, earned a silver medal, marking her first Olympic medal and hinting at a promising future in the sport. Meanwhile, American star Katie Ledecky secured a bronze medal, bringing her Olympic medal count to 11. Ledecky, who had previously expressed confidence in her chances for the 400 free, acknowledged the competitive field and expressed gratitude for her medal, despite feeling she could have performed better. Titmus and Ledecky share a mutual respect, with Titmus looking up to Ledecky as a role model. Ledecky, who is preparing for her upcoming events, including the 800 and 1500-meter freestyles, emphasized the importance of staying focused and positive during the competition. As the Games progress, both swimmers are poised to continue their pursuit of Olympic glory.