Australian four-time Olympic gold medalist Ariarne Titmus retired from competitive swimming at the age of 25, ending a glittering career that featured one of the sport’s greatest rivalries with American Katie Ledecky.
Titmus confirmed her decision on Thursday (15), signing off as one of Australia’s most decorated athletes, with eight Olympic medals and four world titles.
The decision came as a shock to the country and the swimming world in general, as she had long planned to return to the pools to seek more Olympic glory in Los Angeles-2028.
“A difficult decision, a really difficult one, but one that I’m very happy with,” she said of her decision in a social media video.
“I love swimming, I’ve always loved swimming. It’s been my passion since I was little. But I think I took this time away from the pool and realized that some things in my life that have always been important to me are just a little more important now.”
Race of the century
Titmus won her third individual Olympic gold medal in a 400 m freestyle final dubbed “the race of the century” at the Paris Games, when she defeated Ledecky and Canadian Summer McIntosh to defend her title.
After Paris, she decided to take a year off from competing and training to recharge, opting to skip the world championships in Singapore and instead cover the event as a TV commentator.
But a return to the pool never materialized.
Titmus had undergone surgery to remove benign tumors from her ovaries eight months before Paris, and she said the health scare reminded her about having a life outside of swimming.
“Delving deeper into these health challenges, I had to think about what is most important to me,” said Titmus, who retires as the 200m freestyle world record holder.
“Apart from swimming, I have always had goals in my personal life.
“More than anything, I’m excited for what’s next.”
The retirement of Titmus, the face of Australian swimming at the last two Olympics, deprives the national team of an inspirational leader who did much to restore the country to superpower status in the sport after a lean decade.
Born in Tasmania, Titmus moved to Queensland in her early teens to be trained by elite coach Dean Boxall.
Earning the nickname ‘Terminator’ after winning the 400m and 800m freestyle titles at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, she then introduced herself to the swimming world by beating Ledecky in the 400m at the 2019 World Championships.
Two years later, his effort to overtake Ledecky and snatch his 400m crown at the Tokyo Games instantly became part of swimming folklore, along with Boxall’s frenzied celebrations in the stands.
The successful defense of her title in Paris made her the first Australian woman to win consecutive gold medals in an individual swimming event since Dawn Fraser in the 1960s.
Titmus also won two silvers and a gold in the relay event in Paris, including his second place behind Ledecky in a thrilling 800m freestyle final.
She always said that Ledecky, the ‘GOAT’ of women’s swimming, made her a better rival, but as intense as the rivalry was, there was only mutual admiration, hugs and kind words outside the pool.
The American swimmer was among those who congratulated Titmus on his career after his retirement announcement. “An exceptional competitor, champion and person!” she wrote on Titmus’ Instagram feed.
