Ariarne Titmus
12 November 2026
Join Ariarne Titmus for the launch of Relentless!
When she was seven years old, Ariarne Titmus knew she was going to be an Olympic swimmer. When she was 14, her family left Tasmania for Queensland to give Ariarne the best chance to pursue her dream. When she was 18, Ariarne beat US powerhouse Katie Ledecky to become the 400-metre women’s freestyle World Champion. Over the next seven years, Ariarne’s strength, determination and commitment made her one of the greatest middle-distance swimmers of all time: she smashed records, won eight Olympic medals and became known as ‘The Terminator’. But at 25, at the peak of her athletic power, Ariarne announced her retirement.
In Relentless, her deeply personal and powerfully honest memoir, she shares her incredible story for the first time, opening up about the medical issues that shaped her decision to change course and embrace life outside the pool. Don’t miss Ariarne in conversation with award-winning journalist, TV presenter and author Katrina Blowers for an insightful and inspiring discussion of sacrifice and success.
Brisbane Writers Festival is held on the lands of the Yuggera and Turrbul people, on the banks of the Maiwar river. We recognise the important and ongoing contributions of Indigenous Australians to art and literature, and pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging.