Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus broadcasts retirement from elite swimming

Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus has introduced her retirement from elite swimming in a social media submit that took Australian sports activities followers abruptly.

The 25-year-old Titmus, a four-time Olympic gold medallist, had been broadly anticipated to return to aggressive swimming following a break within the wake of the Paris Games and practice for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

“I’ve at all times beloved swimming; it’s been my ardour since I used to be a bit of lady, however I suppose I’ve taken this time away from the game and realised some issues in my life which have at all times been essential to me are just a bit bit extra essential to me now than swimming,” Titmus stated in a video posted Thursday (October 16, 2025) on Instagram.

“And that’s OK.” At the Paris Olympics final yr, Titmus received the 400-metre freestyle to defend her title in a extremely hyped race towards American nice Katie Ledecky and Canada’s Summer McIntosh.

All three had held the world file within the occasion at some stage. In 2023, Titmus had surgical procedure to take away two benign ovarian tumors however returned to the best stage shortly.

“Knowing now what I do know, I want perhaps I loved that final race a bit of bit extra,” she stated.

“But I suppose having this 12 months away, I’ve had the prospect to discover what life is like with out swimming — and that was at all times my intention — however I feel a turning level for me was within the lead-up to the Paris Games. I went by way of some well being challenges which, fairly frankly, actually rocked me.”

Titmus retires because the world-record holder within the 200 freestyle and with 33 worldwide medals, together with 4 gold, three silver, and one bronze Olympic gold medals and 4 world titles.

She initially posted the information as a letter to her seven-year-old self.

“Today you retire from aggressive swimming. 18 years you spent within the pool competing. 10 of these representing your nation. You went to 2 Olympic Games and, even higher, you received!!!” she wrote. “The goals you had, all of them got here true. You achieved greater than you ever thought you had been able to and try to be so proud.”

Australian Olympic Committee president Ian Chesterman praised Titmus for setting “superb requirements for the game and people who observe.”

“Ariarne has at all times performed herself so effectively out of the pool in addition to within the pool,” Chesterman added in a press release. “Someone who you speak about 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 final word success.”

In an earlier social media submit, Swimming Australia congratulated Titmus for her “unwavering dedication to swimming in Australia and for uplifting us all around the globe.”