Ariarne Titmus makes heartbreaking Olympics admission ahead of Paris Games

Australian Olympic champion Ariarne Titumus has revealed that the physical and emotional toll of the Tokyo Olympics led to her collapsing after her final race. Titmus had an exhausting competition schedule in Tokyo, where she won gold in the 200 and 400m as well as silver in the 800m - finishing a close second to rival Katie Ledecky.

Her success in the pool led to her becoming a household name in Australia and a figure constantly in the spotlight. But despite being Australia's hero in Tokyo, Titmus told the En Route to Paris podcast that she was relieved when it was all over.

With the pressure for her to perform and succeed so high, the 23-year-old said her biggest challenge was controlling her emotions through the highs and lows of the Games. With finals first thing in the morning and heats in the evenings, at times Titmus would have no more than 30 minutes to herself between sessions to reflect and regather her thoughts.

And in a heartbreaking revelation, the gold medalist said the pressure led to her collapsing behind the scenes. "My Olympics last time was such a blur to me … it was probably the most gruelling and exhausting week of my life," Titmus said

"I was probably most proud of my performance in the 800m, to be honest. When that race was over, it was like you’re in a pressure cooker and you release the valve. I collapsed, my mind and body relaxed for the first time in nine days. I just collapsed. It was the most unreal feeling it was over and done.

"You look forward to an Olympic Games your entire life and you train your whole life for it and then when you’re in it you just want it to be over. I think that is the most bizarre feeling but the sense of relief I was done was unreal and just overcame me."

Ariarne Titmus' Paris preparation far from ideal

Titmus is currently putting the final touches on her preparations for the Paris Games, with Australia’s selection trials just one month away. But the last 12 months have been far from ideal for Australia's golden girl.

In September Titmus revealed that doctors found two tumours on one of her ovaries after she underwent an MRI scan for a sore hip. The 23-year-old underwent surgery to remove the benign tumours but said at the time that she had been left "frustrated" by how far she had fallen behind after the time out of the pool following her operation.

"It's frustrating being behind where I want to be at this point in the season because the recovery from a surgery like this is not simple," Titmus told the Keegan and Company podcast last year. "But I had no choice for me and where I want to go in my life, I just had to get it out.

"I wasn't doing anything for two weeks and then slowly got back in (the pool); I wore a floaty around my waist ... doing dog paddles for 200 metres and slowly building up." However, since then Titmus has quickly returned to the top of the sport.

At last month's Australian championships, Titmus, however, put the world on notice, with a powerful victory in the 400m freestyle - an event she claimed gold at the Tokyo Olympics. Titmus swam the fastest time of the year at the championships, a scintillating three minutes 59.13.

"That is my first time sub four (minutes) in work which is really good ... it's a good sign," she said. "I know a lot of people are willing me on and I am just trying to use it the best way possible." Australia’s selection trials for the Paris Olympics start in Brisbane on June 10.