Pool queen Ariarne Titmus reveals why she collapsed physically and mentally at the Tokyo Olympics

Aussie swimming superstar Ariarne Titmus has revealed the level of pressure she felt to succeed at the Tokyo Olympics left her at breaking point both physically and mentally.

Titmus won gold in the 200m and 400m freestyle, silver in the 800m and bronze medal in the 4x200m relay back in 2021 - and once her busy race schedule was completed, she was too spent to be elated.

'My Olympics last time was such a blur to me … it was probably the most gruelling and exhausting week of my life,' Titmus told the En Route to Paris podcast.

'I was probably most proud of my performance in the 800m [where she finished second to fierce rival Katie Ledecky] to be honest.

'When that race was over, it was like I was in a pressure cooker ... then it was time to release the valve.

'I collapsed, my mind and body was [completely] relaxed for the first time in nine days.

'I just collapsed. It was the most unreal feeling, it was over and done.'

Titmus added she feels blessed every day to live the life of a professional athlete - but acknowledged the pressure at times is immense. 

'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 [the moment], you just want it to be over,' she added.

'I think that is the most bizarre feeling....but the sense of relief I was done was unreal.

'It just overcame me.'

Titmus's pool schedule in Paris come July won't be as intense as what she endured in Tokyo, with swimming events to be largely staged at night.

Australia’s selection trials start in Brisbane on June 10.