Olympic swimming champion Ariarne Titmus has quit Nine’s reality series Shark! just one day before the show’s finale, after deciding she could not complete its most dangerous challenge.
The six-part series follows a group of Australian celebrities facing their fears in staged shark dives, including The Block host Scott Cam, former Home and Away star Lynne McGranger and Titmus.
The final challenge required contestants to dive with tiger sharks at Tiger Beach in the Bahamas, a location known for previous fatal shark attacks.
Titmus had struggled throughout the series and, in Monday’s episode, said she was unsure she could go ahead.
“I’ve never been someone to give up. You don’t win Olympic gold to give up. But you have limits … I have to think about what’s realistic for me, and if Tiger Beach is a bit too far out of my reach …” she said.
Before the final dive, Titmus told fellow contestants and show hosts, shark attack survivor Paul de Gelder and shark conservationist Annie Guttridge, she had made her decision.
“I’ve thought a lot about this dive and ultimately, I’ve decided not to do the Tiger shark dive,” she said.
“I’ve also made another decision, and I’ve actually decided to go home today.”
The announcement surprised the group, with Guttridge calling it a “big shock” and de Gelder asking whether anything could be done to change her mind.
Titmus said the experience had taken a significant emotional toll.
“I’m emotionally exhausted … this has been really tough for me. I just want these guys to jump into it and enjoy it, and I don’t want them to have my fear as a distraction,” she said.
The episode aired as shark incidents continue to draw national attention.
Earlier this week, a woman was critically injured in a shark attack off Coogee Beach in Sydney’s east and has since had her arm amputated. The 35-year-old, Leah Stewart, remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital.
Just weeks earlier, Nine postponed the Western Australian premiere of Shark! following the death of spearfisher Daniel Turpin, who was killed by a shark near Albany.
A Nine spokesperson said at the time: “Given recent events, we have made the decision to postpone the Perth broadcast premiere of Shark!”
Image: Nine
