Ariarne Titmus labelled a ‘residing legend’ after calling time on embellished swimming profession

Olympic teammates and rivals have paid tribute to the profession of Australian swimming nice Ariarne Titmus, who has introduced her retirement on the age of 25.

Titmus gained 4 Olympic gold medals throughout the Paris and Tokyo Games, and topped the rostrum as many instances on the world championships (lengthy course).

She confirmed she had retired on Thursday after taking an prolonged break following final yr’s Paris Olympics.

Kaylee McKeown, who has gained 5 Olympic gold medals for Australia throughout her profession, was amongst these to bathe Titmus with reward.

“You are incredible,” McKeown wrote on Instagram.

“[I’m] Privileged to have witnessed a living legend in the sport.”

Mollie O’Callaghan and Titmus — who each skilled below Dean Boxall at Brisbane’s St Peters Western Swim Club — loved a stirring rivalry within the 200 metres freestyle.

O’Callaghan, who pipped Titmus for the gold over the gap in Paris, supplied her congratulations.

“So grateful to have trained alongside you,” O’Callaghan wrote on Instagram.

“Wishing you all the best in this next chapter!”

One of Titmus’s 4 Olympic gold medals got here as a member of Australia’s 4x200m freestyle crew in Paris.

Brianna Throssell, who swam the relay leg earlier than Titmus anchored Australia to gold in an Olympic report, took to Instagram to write down concerning the inspiration her teammate supplied fellow swimmers.

“What a career,” Throssell posted.

“You’ve carried a nation, inspired a generation and done it all with such grace and heart.

“Your legacy will echo for years!!! So happy with all the things you’ve got achieved and to have been a little bit a part of your journey.

“Thank you roomie.”

On social media platform X, the Australian Swim Team thanked Titmus for her contribution to the game, describing her profession as “wonderful”.

It has not simply been the swimming fraternity who’ve come out in droves with congratulations.

Three-time Olympic canoe slalom champion, Jess Fox, cherished the friendship she shared with Titmus.

“It was such a privilege to watch you race, to be Olympic teammates with you, and even more to become friends,” Fox wrote on Instagram.

Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) president 2020 chef de mission, Ian Chesterman, mentioned Titmus had left an infinite influence.

“Ariarne has set amazing standards for the sport and those that follow,” Chesterman mentioned in an AOC assertion.

“Ariarne has always conducted herself so well out of the pool as well as in the pool.

“Someone who you discuss being an absolute champion, somebody who has proven all of the traits that you really want in a younger athlete and who has achieved the last word success.

“Ariarne — thank you for all you have done.”

Australia’s Paris chef de Mission and fellow Olympic gold medallist, Anna Meares, supplied related sentiments.

“Ariarne has been the exemplar of performance and excellence throughout her entire career,” she mentioned.

“No-one will ever forget her fierce determination to rise through the ranks not just to take on the greats of her sport but to surpass them.”

International rivals reward Titmus

Titmus put the worldwide swimming neighborhood on discover in 2019 by defeating Katie Ledecky within the 400m freestyle ultimate on the world championships, staged in Gwangju.

Ledecky was a three-time world champion within the occasion, in addition to the reigning Olympic gold medallist.

She additionally held the world report, for good measure.

Titmus would additionally relegate Ledecky to silver within the 400m on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, though the legendary American distance swimmer reversed that end result within the 800m freestyle.

The pair loved a fierce however pleasant rivalry, with Ledecky taking to Instagram to tip her hat to Titmus.

“An outstanding competitor, champion and person!” Ledecky wrote.

Canada’s Summer McIntosh was one other of Titmus’s rivals.

McIntosh broke Titmus’s world 400m freestyle report of three:56.40, when she swam 3:56.08 in 2023.

But Titmus recorded 3:55.38 to regain the worldwide mark on her technique to profitable gold on the 2023 world championships in Fukuoka, with McIntosh ending fourth within the ultimate.

McIntosh, who was second to Titmus within the 400m freestyle on the Paris Olympics, took again the world report earlier this yr, swimming 3:54.18.

On Thursday, McIntosh paid her respect to Titmus’s time within the pool.

“Congratulations on an incredible career and all the very best in your next chapter!” she wrote on Instagram.

“You will be missed!”

Aside from her Olympic and world championships success, Titmus additionally gained seven Commonwealth Games gold medals.

“Ariarne has been nothing short of exceptional throughout her career, a fierce competitor in the pool and a wonderful ambassador for Australian sport,” Commonwealth Games Australia chief government Craig Phillips mentioned in an announcement.

“Her achievements on the Commonwealth Games stage are part of an incredible body of work that has inspired teammates, fans and young athletes right across the country.

“We thank Ariarne for the best way she has represented Australia with satisfaction and fervour, and we sit up for seeing what she achieves within the subsequent chapter of her life.”