Australian Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus says the major health scare she suffered last year was "the best thing" that could have happened to her, revealing a change in perspective it brought about.
Ahead of Australia's Paris 2024 swimming trials, taking place in Brisbane from Monday, the two-time Olympic gold medallist spoke openly about how the removal of two benign tumours from her right ovary had altered her mindset.
In Paris in just over a month's time, the 23-year-old will likely race the 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle events, as well as the 4x200m freestyle relay, before taking a break from the sport.
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Watch Australia's Paris 2024 swimming trials on Nine and 9Now.
"My health scare ... I'm completely through that," Titmus said on Sunday.
"That was probably the best thing that could have happened to me, to be honest ... I'm only young once and I want to really make the most of this moment in my life. The chance that I have to race at the Olympic Games, not just being an Olympian but fighting for medals and gold medals, is very rare, so I just want to take every opportunity I can and enjoy the moment.
"I think when I was younger I was always just looking to the next thing, to the next thing, to the next thing, but as I'm getting older I'm trying to sink into the moment and enjoy them more."
Australian swimming fans will be on world record alert as Titmus dives in for the 400m freestyle final on Monday night, the first final of the trials.
At the world championships in f*ckuoka last year, the Launceston-born superstar ripped a 3:55.38 to regain the world record from Canadian teen sensation Summer McIntosh.
"The Olympic trials is like nothing else and a lot of people get nervous for it, of course; you've got your one chance to get on the team," Titmus said.
"But I'm excited to get out there and race and have some fun and think about why I started swimming."
Here's everything you need to know about the trials.
What are the trials?
The trials are the most prestigious event on the Australian domestic calendar and what's required is cut-throat.
For athletes to earn an individual place on the Olympic team for Paris 2024, they must finish in the top two of the A final of their event and meet Swimming Australia's qualification time, which in most cases are stricter than World Aquatics' qualification times.
The Paris Olympics will stage relays in the men's and women's 4x100m freestyle, men's and women's 4x200m freestyle, and men's and women's 4x100m medley, as well as the 4x100m mixed medley. Swimming Australia will be able to nominate more than four athletes for each relay team to the Australian Olympic Committee, which will announce the selected athletes.
To be nominated to Paralympics Australia as a "priority one" athlete, swimmers must finish in the top three of their class and meet Swimming Australia's qualification time.
Where are the trials taking place?
The trials are being held at Brisbane Aquatic Centre.
When are the trials happening?
The trials are taking place from Monday, June 10 until Saturday, June 15.
Each day is divided into two sessions: the heats, beginning at 11am (AEST) and wrapping up about two hours later, and the finals, starting at 7.30pm (AEST) and finishing about two hours later.
CLICK HERE to see Swimming Australia's trials timeline.
How can I watch the trials?
The finals, taking place every night, are airing on Channel 9 and 9Now, beginning at 7.30pm (AEST). The heats, beginning at 11am each day, are airing on 9Now.
Swimming Australia's Olympic qualification times (men's/women's)
50m freestyle: 21.88 / 24.67
100m freestyle: 48.06 / 53.61
200m freestyle: 1:45.97 / 1:56.49
400m freestyle: 3:45.43 / 4:04.98
800m freestyle: 7:45.80 / 8:22.20
1500m freestyle: 14:54.29 / 16:01.95
100m backstroke: 53.21 / 59.62
200m backstroke: 1:57.28 / 2:09.74
100m breaststroke: 59.49 / 1:06.31
200m breaststroke: 2:09.50 / 2:23.91
100m butterfly: 51.17 / 57.17
200m butterfly: 1:54.97 / 2:07.72
200m individual medley: 1:57.23 / 2:10.62
400m individual medley: 4:12.50 / 4:38.53
Swimming Australia's Paralympic qualification times
CLICK HERE and scroll to the bottom.
Athletes to watch
A long list of Olympic and Paralympic gold medallists, world champions, Commonwealth Games champions and world record holders are gunning for selection. Among them are Ariarne Titmus, Mollie O'Callaghan, Kaylee McKeown, Cate and Bronte Campbell, Kyle Chalmers, Cameron McEvoy, Zac Stubblety-Cook, Sam Short, Elijah Winnington, Katja Dedekind, Lakeisha Patterson, Rachael Watson, Alexa Leary, Rowan Crothers, Ben Hance, Ben Popham and Tim Hodge.
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/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F836ac281-7506-4249-8af9-005da47e38ac "Titmus' raw admission after major health scare (5)")
Australia's top gold medal hopes for Paris Olympics
When will the Paris 2024 teams be announced?
The Paralympic team announcement is scheduled for Friday at 9.24pm.
The Olympic team announcement is scheduled for Saturday at 9.04pm.
