Aussie Olympic golden girl Ariarne Titmus announces engagement to her investment analyst boyfriend

4 hours ago 9

By ASHLEY NICKEL, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA and MICHAEL PONTICELLO - SPORT REPORTER

Published: 10:31 BST, 14 September 2026 | Updated: 16:22 BST, 14 September 2026

Australian Olympic swimmer Ariarne Titmus has announced her engagement to boyfriend, Mac Powell.

Titmus and Powell shared a joint post on Instagram on Monday night which included photos of their engagement from September 7, the athlete's 26th birthday.

Four-time Olympic gold medallist Titmus met investment analyst Powell on a blind date shortly after the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Titmus wrote alongside photos of the beachside proposal: 'You + me forever.'

The 26-year-old, who holds the world record in the women's 200-metre freestyle, earlier this year revealed she had decided to retire from swimming to spend more time with Powell and her family. 

In July she opened up about having two benign tumours removed from one of her ovaries and how the experience had changed her outlook.

'It was probably the most pivotal moment in time where I can pinpoint an exact moment I had a huge perspective shift,' she said.

'It was something very challenging to deal with in the lead up to an Olympic Games where I had big goals to win gold medals and was expected to perform.'

Australian Olympic swimmer Ariarne Titmus is engaged to boyfriend, Mac Powell

The couple announced their engagement on Monday following the proposal on September 7, the athlete's 26th birthday

Titmus said the harrowing experience influenced her perspective on life completely. 

'It made me realise very quickly what I want from my life and how easily that could've been taken from me,' she said.

'It certainly has played into my opinion on how important family is and they are the one thing you've got to cherish in life.'

The swimming great moved from Queensland to Melbourne to live alongside Powell shortly after her retirement. 

'I can't believe the cards the universe dealt me post Olympics and the precision of the timing, the perfect timing that it was for him to come into my life,' she said.

'It 100 per cent was meant to be at that point in time.'

The couple met on a blind date set up by a family friend.

Powell, who works in finance, hadn't watched the Olympics and didn't recognise Titmus, allowing their connection to grow naturally.

The couple met on a blind date in late 2024, shortly after the Paris Olympics

Titmus captioned the photos of their engagement, 'You + me forever'

'He is incredible,' Titmus said.

'We come from totally different walks of life. I feel very grateful he's never looked at me as Ariarne the swimmer that everyone sees.

'He's taught me the importance of family. 

'[He's also taught me] how precious time is with the people that you love and I'm very grateful that I found someone that was going to support me either way.'

Read Entire Article
Pemilu | Tempo | |