Four-time Australian Olympic gold medallist Ariarne
Titmus has announced she is retiring from swimming at the age of 25, saying
"the time feels right to step away".
"It's a tough one [decision] but one that I'm really
happy with", she said on Instagram on Thursday, adding: "I've always
loved swimming, it's been my passion since I was a little girl."
She took a break after last year's Paris Olympics and
"realised some things in my life that have always been important to me are
just a little bit more important to me now than swimming".
Titmus is the world record holder in the 200m freestyle
and is retiring with 32 international medals to her name, including eight
Olympic medals.
A two-time Olympic champion in the 400m freestyle, she
triumphed in Tokyo in 2021 and in Paris last year. She also won 200m freestyle
gold in Tokyo and was part of the Australia team that won the 4x200m freestyle
relay in Paris.
Before the Paris Games, Titmus underwent surgery to
remove an ovarian tumour, which she referred to in Thursday's announcement,
saying she had faced health challenges which "really rocked me
mentally".
After 18 years of swimming, and having just turned 25,
"the time feels right to step away from swimming", she wrote in a
letter to her seven-year-old self that she shared on Instagram.
"The pursuit was unrelenting and you gave it every
skerrick of yourself. You walk away knowing every stone was turned, no regrets.
You're fulfilled, content and happy."
American swimmer Katie Ledecky - a rival of Titmus and
who the Australian beat to win the 400m freestyle gold in Paris - responded to
the announcement, saying Titmus was an "outstanding competitor, champion
and person".
Fellow Australian Olympic swimmer Mollie O'Callaghan, who
beat Titmus in the 200m freestyle in Paris to win gold, congratulated her
former team-mate on an "amazing career".
