AdvertisementAustralian Ariarne Titmus, 23, is the defending Olympic gold medalist in the event and the favorite entering Saturday’s competition. American Katie Ledecky, 27, took gold in the 400 free in the previous Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Plus, the field includes 17-year-old Canadian phenom Summer McIntosh, who set the world record in the event in 2023 before Titmus re-set it. With none of the runners-up in view, Ariarne Titmus reaches for gold in the women’s 400-meter freestyle at the 2023 world championships. (Jacob Kupferman / Getty Images)(Top illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; photos of Ariarne Titmus, Katie Ledecky and Summer McIntosh: Quinn Rooney, Maddie Meyer and Jacob Kupferman / Getty Images)

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Persons: PARIS — It’s, Katie Ledecky, Summer McIntosh, Titmus, “, I’ve, ” Ledecky, Erika Fairweather, McIntosh, She’ll, Adam Pretty, Canada’s, she’s, Ledecky, Regan Smith, Kate Douglass, Alex Walsh, ” Brent Arckey, don’t, Caeleb Dressel, ” Titmus, I’m, ”, Larisa Latynina, Jacob Kupferman, Dan Goldfarb, Ariarne Titmus, Quinn Rooney, Maddie Meyer Organizations: Paris Games, PARIS, Tokyo Games, Summer’s Games, CBC Sports, U.S, Titmus, McIntosh, Olympic Locations: Rio de Janeiro, U.S, Fukuoka, Japan, Sarasota , Fla, Tokyo, Titmus, Australia, Titmus Australia, Chartres, France, London, Soviet Union, Ledecky, McIntosh, Paris