'Living legend' Ariarne Titmus announces retirement from swimming | The Express Tribune
Key Takeaways
- Four-time Olympic gold medallist Ariarne Titmus announced her immediate retirement from swimming.
- Titmus cited a shift in life priorities and recent health challenges as the primary reasons for stepping away.
- She had previously intended to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
- Titmus is celebrated for winning back-to-back 400m freestyle Olympic titles against Katie Ledecky.
- Fellow elite swimmers, including Ledecky and McKeown, paid tribute to her career, calling her a 'living legend'.
Four-time Olympic gold medallist Ariarne Titmus announced her immediate retirement from swimming on Thursday, describing the decision as extremely difficult but one she is happy with. The 25-year-old Australian had been on a break since the Paris Olympics but had planned to return for the 2028 Games, noting that she wished she had enjoyed her last race more. Titmus explained that time away and recent health challenges, including surgery for a benign ovarian tumor, caused her to re-evaluate her priorities, realizing that life outside of swimming is now more important. Known for her dominant 400m freestyle performances against Katie Ledecky, Titmus retires with 33 international medals, including eight Olympic ones. The swimming community, including Ledecky, Summer McIntosh, and Kaylee McKeown, lauded her career, calling her a 'living legend' and an outstanding competitor.
