Ariarne Titmus, Olympic champ and Summer McIntosh rival, retires from elite swimming

Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus has introduced her retirement from elite swimming in a social media publish that took Australian sports activities followers without warning.

The 25-year-old Titmus, a four-time Olympic gold medallist, had been extensively anticipated to return to aggressive swimming following a break within the wake of the Paris Games and prepare for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

“I’ve always loved swimming, it’s been my passion since I was a little girl, but I guess I’ve taken this time away from the sport and realized some things in my life that have always been important to me are just a little bit more important to me now than swimming,” Titmus mentioned in a video posted Thursday on Instagram. “And that’s OK.”

At the Paris Olympics final yr, Titmus gained the ladies’s 400-metre freestyle to defend her title in a extremely hyped race in opposition to American nice Katie Ledecky and Canada’s Summer McIntosh.

All three had held the world document within the occasion at some stage.

In 2023, Titmus had surgical procedure to take away two benign ovarian tumours however returned to the very best stage rapidly.

“Knowing now what I know, I wish maybe I enjoyed that last race a little bit more,” she mentioned. “But I guess having this 12 months away I’ve had the chance to explore what life is like without swimming — and that was always my intention — but I think a turning point for me was in the lead-up to the Paris Games I went through some health challenges which, quite frankly, really rocked me.”

Titmus retires because the world-record holder within the 200 freestyle and with 33 worldwide medals, together with 4 gold, three silver and one bronze Olympic gold medals and 4 world titles.

She initially posted the information as a letter to her seven-year-old self.

“Today you retire from competitive swimming. 18 years you spent in the pool competing. 10 of those representing your country. You went to two Olympic Games and, even better, you won!!!” she wrote. “The dreams you had; they all came true. You achieved more than you ever thought you were capable of and you should be so proud.”

In a social media publish, Swimming Australia congratulated Titmus for her “unwavering dedication to swimming in Australia and for inspiring us all around the world.”