Ariarne Titmus announces her retirement from swimming at 25

Ariarne Titmus has announced her immediate retirement from competitive swimming at the age of 25.

The four-time Olympic gold medallist holds the current 200m freestyle world record but has opted to step away after a staggering haul of 33 international medals, including eight Olympic medals (four gold, three silver, one bronze), nine World Championship medals (four gold, two silver, three bronze) and eight Commonwealth Games medals (seven gold and one silver).

Titmus announced her retirement on Thursday, describing the decision as a “really tough one, but one that I’m really happy with”.

“I never thought Paris would be my last Olympic Games,” she said.

“Knowing what I know, I wish I maybe enjoyed that last race a little bit more.

“Having these 12 months away, I’ve really had the chance to explore what life’s like without swimming. That was always my intention.

“I love swimming, I’ve always loved swimming. It’s been my passion since I was a little girl.

“But I’ve taken some 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.”

Titmus became a household name when she won the 400m freestyle gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, dethroning American legend Katie Ledecky.

Her working partnership with coach Dean Boxall took Australian swimming to new heights and saw Titmus shatter the 400m world record on several occasions. She is the current world record holder in the 200m freestyle.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Titmus achieved a historic third individual Olympic gold medal, winning the 400m freestyle in the race dubbed “the race of the century”, where she defeated the other two previous world record holders of this event – Katie Ledecky, and Canadian swimming prodigy* Summer McIntosh.

Titmus follows in the footsteps of another great Australian sporting champion Ash Barty, who was also 25 when she retired from tennis in 2022.

Titmus was part of Channel 9’s commentary team for this year’s World Swimming Championships, and was this week announced as one of the celebrities who’ll take part in the network’s new reality show next year that involves the contestants swimming with sharks.

CHANGING PRIORITIES
Titmus, who went public with her relationship with her boyfriend earlier this year, has been open about wanting to have children, sharing her experience of having benign* tumours removed from her ovaries in September 2023.

“It put a lot of things into perspective for me,” Titmus told the Inherited podcast last year.

“My body isn’t just a vehicle to train, my body’s purpose, really, is to carry a child one day.

“And that really hit home to me, it made me realise how much I want to be a mum, and it made swimming almost seem a bit irrelevant* at the time.”

Titmus, one of Australia’s greatest ever swimmers, said she would give up all her success in the pool to be a mum one day.

“I’ve always wanted to be a mum, but it probably made me realise how much I want it,” she said. “I would give up every gold medal I’ve ever won to have a child [ …].

“I’m so lucky that I’ve got the best mum in the world, and I just want to be that one day.”

“Beyond swimming, I’ve always had goals in my personal life. I’ve just realised those goals and what I want in my future is more important to me.

“More than anything, I’m excited for what’s next.”

SWIMMING WORLD REACTS
Swimming stars from around the world and her Dolphins teammates were full of praise for Titmus after her big announcement on Thursday morning.

“Congratulations on an incredible career and all the very best in your next chapter! You will be missed!” Canadian superstar Summer McIntosh wrote.

“Congratulations on an amazing career, Arnie! So grateful to have trained alongside you, wishing you all the best in this next chapter!” Mollie O’Callaghan wrote.

“You are incredible, privileged to have witnessed a living legend in the sport,” Kaylee McKeown wrote.

“Congratulations on an amazing swimming career!!! Here’s to the next chapters!” Susie O’Neill wrote.

“I’m so proud of you! You are a legend in and out of the pool. You’ve inspired me so much over the years and I am honoured to call you my friend!! All the best with the next chapter of life”, Kyle Chalmers wrote.

“Wonderful to have seen your journey! You’re amazing,” Bronte Campbell wrote.

“What a career. you’ve carried a nation, inspired a generation and done it all with such grace and heart. Your legacy will echo for years!!! So proud of everything you have achieved and to have been a little part of your journey, thank you roomie,” Brianna Throssell wrote.

“(Just) the beginning,” Dylan Alcott wrote.

“You are everything. From that little girl that came in with that ‘deer in the headlights look’ to the fierce, strong and resilient woman I’ve watched you become. You inspire so many! I love you Arnie. What an incredible message for all to follow,” Madi Wilson wrote.

ARNIE’S CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

– Four-time Olympic gold medallist

– Two-time Olympian

– Reigning Olympic champion in the women’s 400m

– Current 200m freestyle world record holder (1:52.23)

– At the 2024 Australian Selection Trials, Titmus became the first Australian woman since Shane Gould in 1972 to concurrently hold the 200m and 400m free world records

– Member of the 4 x 200mm freestyle team that holds the world record

– At the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, became the second swimmer to claim the 200m/400m/800m frees treble at a Commonwealth Games – all in Games records

– Nominee for the 2025 Laureus World Comeback of the Year award for her performance at the 2024 Olympics after her surgery.

With NewsWire

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POLL

GLOSSARY

• prodigy: someone with a very great ability that usually shows itself when they are young
• benign: not too harmful or severe, in this case a tumour that was not cancerous
• ovaries: the pair of reproductive organs in a woman’s body that produces eggs
• irrelevant: something that isn’t important or related to whatever is happening or being considered

EXTRA READING

Golden girls’ dual world record

Coach Dean Boxall deserves a gold too

Ash Barty retires from tennis

QUICK QUIZ

1. How many Olympic medals has Titmus won?
2. Which other legendary Australian athlete also retired at the age of 25?
3. Who were her two main international threats in the pool at the last Olympics?
4. Who coached Titmus to greatness?
5. Titmus currently holds which world record and for what time?

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CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Follow the five Ws
Write down the key points from this Kids News article in short, succinct sentences:

Who:

What:

When:

Where:

Why:

How:

Possible headline for the article:

Time: allow 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
Write down the arguments for and against Titmus’ decision to retire as presented in the article.

FOR

AGAINST

Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
A new Olympic category
The Olympic committee has decided they should revise the Olympic sports and make sure they haven’t left out any competition. Write a letter to the Olympic Committee trying to convince them that your own talent should be classed as a sport and included in the next Olympics. Remember to include clear reasons why your talent should be included, use persuasive and emotive language, and back up your reasons with detailed explanations.