TV moment that nearly broke Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus – and why she almost quit before it even began

May 31, 2026 - 10.40am

Exclusive: Ariarne Titmus, 25, knows a thing or two about pressure. The now-retired swimmeris the reigning Olympic champion in the women's 400-metre freestyle, having won in 2020 and again in 2024.

"People think because I was able to perform under that sort of pressure, you're unbreakable – but I'm absolutely not," Titmus told nine.com.au.

"I have real feelings, emotions and real fears and I'm just like everyone else."

Those real fears include sharks, which is exactly why she joined the cast of Shark!, the new series where six high-profile Australians test their limits among the crystal-clear waters (and apex predators) of the Bahamas.

In the premiere episode, the celebrities, including Titmus, Tammy Hembrow, Lynne McGranger, Matt Nable and Sam Thaiday, got up close to more than a dozen bull sharks in an underwater cage.

Titmus could not mask her fear as she got into the water with sharks for the first time.

"I've always been so strong in what I do, I've never been scared of anything in my job," she said.

"I can stand behind the blocks in an Olympic final and be like pfft – this is so different."

Despite her fears, she got in the cage.

Watch the moment in the video below:

"Can they go further away, please, please, please?" Titmus pleaded during the dive.

Afterwards, Titmus was "really proud" for facing her fear head-on.

"I'm going to be petrified this whole week. I truly know I'll leave here and still be scared of sharks – God help me," she said.

Titmus always knew she would struggle with the show, which will see stakes rise with each escalating task.

While they began in a cage, the cast were working up to a daunting, open-water swim with tiger sharks.

"I remember a week out from leaving I wanted to pull out," Titmus said to nine.com.au.

Ultimately, she stuck it out to show viewers that even those we think of as superhuman have fears.

"I hope people don't think I'm a drama queen," she said.

"I genuinely was petrified throughout the whole experience."

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