AP, SYDNEY
Emma McKeon, Australia’s most-decorated Olympian, yesterday announced her retirement from competitive swimming.
McKeon holds the Australian record of 14 Olympic medals — six of them gold — won over three Summer Olympics, while her seven-medal haul at Tokyo in 2021 is the most ever by a female swimmer at a single Games and equals most for any female athlete from any sport at a single Olympics.
The 30-year-old McKeon had previously hinted that the Paris Games — where she won gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay — would be her final Olympics, but she had not said whether she would continue to swim competitively.
Australian swimmer Emma McKeon poses with her gold medal on the podium after winning the women’s 50m freestyle event at the Tokyo Olympic Games on Aug. 1, 2021.
Photo: AFP
“I am proud of myself for giving my swimming career absolutely everything, both physically and mentally. I wanted to see what I was capable of, and I did,” McKeon wrote on social media. “Swimming has given me so much. From the dream igniting at 5 years old, right through to my third Olympic games — I have so many lessons, experiences, friendships and memories that I am so thankful for.”
McKeon’s 14 medals came across the 2016 Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo and Paris games, with six Olympic golds, three silvers and five bronzes.
She is second only to Katie Ledecky in terms of Olympic swimming gold medals won. The American has won nine across four Olympics in her tally of 14.
“Emma has added her own incredible chapter to Australia’s history at the Olympic Games,” Australian Olympic Committee president Ian Chesterman said in a written statement. “Emma has been an extraordinary athlete who has etched herself a special place in Australian sporting landscape, particularly through her success at the Olympics.”
“Her performances during Tokyo were particularly stunning. Emma is recognized not just in Australia, but around the world, as one of the greatest Olympians ever,” he added.
