Katie Ledecky settles for silver in 400m freestyle (Video)

Katie Ledecky had to settle for a silver medal in her first final of the 2021 Olympics as rival Ariarne Titmus of Australia took gold in the 400m freestyle.

The rivalry between Katie Ledecky and Ariarne Titmus got off to a hot start in the 400m freestyle at the 2021 Olympics.

Titmus came out on top in their first meeting, grasping the gold medal for Australia on Sunday evening (Monday in Japan) by just .67 seconds.

Ledecky had owned the freestyle during a dominant run that made her the most decorated female swimmer in history, but the 20-year-old Titmus has provided a challenge to her throne in recent years.

The American held a comfortable lead at the halfway mark of the final race. Titmus finished strong and just beat her out for gold.

According to ESPN Stats & Info, this was the first time Ledecky has been beaten in an individual event at the Olympics.

Katie Ledecky had to settle for silver in the 400m freestyle

The 400m freestyle is just the first of four races Ledecky and Titmus could battle closely in. Ledecky will also compete in the 200m, 800m and 1,500m freestyle events. She is a member of Team USA’s 4 x 200m relay team as well.

The 400m definitely lived up to all the hype. Perhaps those other races can create some similarly close battles between the two queens of the freestyle.

Ledecky won her first gold at the London Olympics in 2012 at the young age of 15. She went on to add four more gold medals at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

The silver to start the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo is her seventh Olympic medal in total. Expect her to add to that collection. She’s the favorite to win the longer freestyle events.