Ariarne Titmus, Olympic gold medallist, retires from swimming | Olympics Information

Titmus, well-known for beating US swim star Katie Ledecky on the Paris Games, was anticipated to compete within the 2028 Olympics.

Australian four-time Olympic gold medallist Ariarne Titmus has retired from aggressive swimming on the age of 25, ending a stellar profession that featured one of many sport’s nice rivalries with American Katie Ledecky.

Titmus confirmed her resolution on Thursday, bowing out as one in every of Australia’s most embellished athletes with eight Olympic medals and 4 world titles.

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The resolution got here as a shock to her nation, and the swimming world on the whole, as she had lengthy deliberate a return to the pool to chase extra Olympic glory on the Los Angeles Games in 2028.

“A tough one, a really tough one, but one that I’m really happy with,” she mentioned of her resolution in a video on social media.

“I love swimming, 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 pool and realised some things in my life that have always been important to me are just a little bit more important to me.”

Race of the century

Titmus received her third particular person Olympic gold medal in a 400m freestyle last dubbed “the race of the century” on the Paris Games when she beat Ledecky and Canada’s Summer McIntosh to defend her title.

After Paris, she resolved to take a yr off from competing and coaching to recharge, electing to skip the world championships in Singapore and as a substitute cowl the meet as a TV commentator.

But the return to the pool by no means materialised.

Titmus had undergone surgical procedure to take away benign tumours from her ovaries eight months earlier than Paris, and she or he mentioned the well being concern had reminded her about having a life exterior swimming.

“Delving more into those health challenges, I’ve had to think about what’s most important to me,” mentioned Titmus, who retires because the 200m freestyle world file holder.

“Beyond swimming, I’ve always had goals in my personal life.

“More than anything, I’m excited for what’s next.”

The face of Australian swimming on the final two Olympics, Titmus’s retirement robs the nationwide group of an inspirational chief who did a lot to revive the nation to superpower standing within the sport after a lean decade.

An unbelievable profession

Born in Tasmania, Titmus moved to Queensland in her early teenagers to be educated by elite coach Dean Boxall.

Earning the nickname Terminator after sweeping the 400m and 800m freestyle titles on the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, she then introduced herself to the swimming world by beating Ledecky within the 400m freestyle on the 2019 World Championships.

Two years later, her swim to reel in Ledecky and snatch her 400m freestyle crown on the Tokyo Games grew to become instantaneous swimming folklore, together with Boxall’s manic celebrations within the stands.

The profitable defence of her title in Paris made her the primary Australian lady to go back-to-back in a person swimming occasion since Dawn Fraser within the Sixties.

Titmus additionally bagged two silvers and a relay gold at Paris, together with her runner-up end behind Ledecky in an exhilarating 800m freestyle last.

She all the time mentioned Ledecky, the “GOAT” of ladies’s swimming, made her a greater rival, however as intense because the rivalry was, there was solely mutual admiration, hugs and type phrases exterior the pool.

The American nice was amongst these congratulating Titmus on her profession after the retirement announcement.

“An outstanding competitor, champion and person!” she wrote on Titmus’s Instagram feed.