Four-time Olympic swimming champ Ariarne Titmus makes shock retirement call
Key Takeaways
- Australian four-time Olympic gold medallist Ariarne Titmus has retired from competitive swimming at age 25.
- Titmus's retirement was unexpected, as she had planned to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
- She cited realizing the importance of personal life goals, influenced by recent health challenges, as the reason for stepping away.
- Her career included eight Olympic medals, four world titles, and a famous rivalry with American swimmer Katie Ledecky.
- Titmus retires as the 200m freestyle world record holder and a key figure in Australian swimming's recent success.
Australian swimming icon and four-time Olympic gold medallist Ariarne Titmus has retired from the sport at the age of 25, ending a stellar career that included eight Olympic medals and four world titles. The decision, confirmed on Thursday, came as a surprise, especially since she had intended to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Titmus explained that time away from training, coupled with recent health issues like benign ovarian tumours, led her to realize that personal life goals are now more important than swimming. Her career featured an epic rivalry with American star Katie Ledecky, culminating in Titmus defending her 400m freestyle title in Paris in a highly anticipated final dubbed the 'race of the century.' Titmus retires as the 200m freestyle world record holder and is credited with helping restore Australia to superpower status in the sport after a lean decade.
