STAR’S KEY TO CITY … AND OUR HEARTS
HUNDREDS of people gathered in Launceston’s Civic Square to watch Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus receive the Key to the City.
At 21 she is the youngest person to receive the honour, joining the likes of former Test cricket captain Ricky Ponting and cyclist Richie Porte.
Titmus said she was proud to be receiving the honour at what was hopefully just the start of her career.
“I have been on the international stage now for five years, but hopefully I have more in me and I can keep doing Tassie proud,” she said.
“I know Olympic gold medals are very rare to win, but also [being] the sixth person and first female to get the keys in Launceston, I feel like this is such an honour.”
Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten said Titmus’s achievements were “simply outstanding”.
“As proud Launcestonians, Tasmanians and Australians, we know that your name will be in the pages of history over and over again,’’ he said.
“Thank you for showing true courage, always remaining a good sport and a genuine person, and for coming home to this beautiful city of Launceston as a great ambassador for this city and state.”
Family and friends, as well as wellwishers young and old, gathered for Friday’s ceremony, including students from Sacred Heart Primary School, which she attended.
Titmus took gold medals in the 200m and 400m freestyle, silver in the 800m freestyle, and bronze in the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay from her first Olympics. After another two weeks off, she will be back training for the world championships and the Commonwealth Games, with an eye also firmly on the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Friday’s events wrapped up a busy week for Titmus, who was in Launceston for the first time since her successes in Tokyo.
“Since being back my biggest priority really was to go see the younger kids and give back to them because I was one of them that wanted to see my heroes of the pool, and getting to see them was definitely the highlight of the trip,” she said.