A year after retiring from swimming, Ariarne Titmus is shifting her attention to life beyond the pool. She recently shared that it has been one year since her first date with her boyfriend, Mack. Titmus and Mack attended the 2025 TAB Champions Stakes Day at the Melbourne Cup Carnival, where she served as an ambassador for the Victoria Racing Club.
Titmus has loved horse racing since childhood, having grown up around horses and previously competed in dressage and show jumping before swimming.
Where Did Ariarne Titmus And Her Boyfriend Have Their First Date?
Titmus used her social media to post a selfie with her boyfriend, Mack, revealing that their first date was at last year’s Stakes Day, exactly one year before the recent event. Stakes Day in horse racing is a series of high-profile races where the prize money (purse) is partly made up of entry fees paid by the horse owners.
In a story on Instagram, she wrote:
“Full circle moment ❤️ Mac and I had our first date on Stakes day last year. A quiet drink after the races. Here we are together, one year on 🥰,”
Although it has been a year since Mack met Titmus, little is known about him. The four-time Olympic gold medalist explained that he entered her life at ‘the perfect time,’ just as she was announcing her retirement from swimming.
Why Did Titmus Retire From Swimming?
Titmus announced her retirement from swimming last month, with many fans still wondering why she ended her career at the young age of 25. Titmus retired from swimming last month despite a decorated career that began in 2017, which included multiple Olympic golds.
In a video posted on Instagram, Titmus explained that she felt it was time to move on from swimming largely due to health issues she faced before the Paris Games. She said:
“I’ve always loved swimming, but I guess I’ve taken this time away from the sport and realized some things in my life that have always been important to me are just a little bit more important to me now than swimming.
A turning point for me or a time when a switch was flicked was in the lead-up to the Paris Games, I went through some health challenges, which quite frankly really rocked me mentally. It probably was the first time where I considered some things outside of swimming.”
After a large growth was found on her right ovary, Titmus had to undergo surgery to remove two benign tumours. Although many feel that she ended her career prematurely, it is clear that one’s health is the most important consideration. Now, at 25, Titmus will still go down as one of the greatest middle-distance swimmers ever.