ARIARNE TITMUS PIPPED AT THE FINISH BY AMERICAN RIVAL IN 400M FREESTYLE HEAT

Katie Ledecky caught up with and passed Titmuss
The Aussie has still made it to Sunday's final
READ MORE: 2024 Olympic Games - all you need to know about the Aussies in action on Saturday in Paris

Aussie favourite Ariarne Titmus has been pipped by American Katie Ledecky in a blockbuster 400m freestyle heat on the opening day at the Olympics.

Titmus, who won the event at the Tokyo Olympics, looked set to win, but her great rival came from behind to take the honours in the final 50metres.

Ledecky posted a time of 4:02.19, just in front of Titmus at 4:02.46, with the pair taking the fastest two times from the three heats.

Titmus, the world record holder and five-time gold medallist, will now swim in lane five in Sunday's final.

'Just having a look at Arnie at the end of that race, she actually didn't look that pushed,' Giaan Rooney said on Channel Nine.

'It didn't look comfortable in that last 100 (metres) but I also wonder if that was a bit of a play of "I don't want to burn everything I have this morning, if you want to post that time you post that time, I don't need to".'

Another Aussie has also made the final, with Jamie Perkins qualifying fifth fastest.

New Zealander Erika Fairweather (third fastest qualifier) and Canadian Summer McIntosh (fourth fastest) also both swam well, setting up a mouthwatering final for tomorrow.

2024-07-27T10:41:29Z dg43tfdfdgfd