‘Terminator’ Ariarne Titmus announces sudden retirement from swimming; hailed as ‘living legend’ | More sports News
Australian swimming champion Ariarne Titmus, a four-time Olympic gold medallist, announced her immediate retirement from competitive swimming on Thursday in Sydney. The 25-year-old athlete made this decision during an extended break after the Paris Olympics, despite previous plans to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.Titmus, known as “the Terminator,” achieved remarkable success by winning the 400m freestyle titles at both Tokyo and Paris Olympics, defeating American champion Katie Ledecky in what were considered the “races of the century.”She made history by becoming the first Australian swimmer since Dawn Fraser in 1964 to win consecutive gold medals in the same Olympic event.
Ariarne Titmus announced her shock retirement in an Instagram post. (Instagram)
“A tough one, a really tough one, but one that I’m really happy with,” Titmus said on Instagram. “I’ve always loved swimming, it’s been my passion since I was a little girl. But I guess I’ve taken this time away from the sport 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, and that’s okay.”Her retirement announcement prompted responses from fellow athletes. Katie Ledecky commented, “An outstanding competitor, champion and person! Congratulations @ariarnetitmus,” while Summer McIntosh added, “You will be missed.”Before the Paris Olympics, Titmus faced health challenges, undergoing surgery to remove a benign ovarian tumor.“A time came for me when a switch was flicked, it was in the lead up to the Paris Games. I went through some health challenges, which, quite frankly, really rocked me mentally,” she said. “It probably was the first time where I considered some things outside of swimming. My whole swimming career, I’ve been all or nothing, and that’s how I’ve had to be to become the athlete that I am.”“I always intended to return,” Titmus added. “I never thought that Paris would be my last Olympic Games. And knowing now what I know, I wish I had of maybe enjoyed that last race a little bit more.”Titmus concludes her career with an impressive collection of 33 international medals, including eight Olympic medals, nine world championship medals, and eight Commonwealth Games medals.Her retirement drew praise from Australian teammates. Five-time Olympic gold medallist Kaylee McKeown said, “You are incredible. Privileged to have witnessed a living legend in the sport.”Olympic 200m freestyle champion Mollie O’Callaghan expressed gratitude for training alongside Titmus, while sprint champion Kyle Chalmers added, “I’m so proud of you. You are a legend in and out of the pool.”Although Canadian Summer McIntosh recently broke her 400m world record, Titmus still holds the record as the fastest woman ever in the 200m event.
