Australia’s most profitable Olympian retires after glittering profession

Australia’s most embellished Olympian, Emma McKeon, introduced her retirement from all types of swimming on Monday, bringing an finish to a glittering profession by which she gained 14 medals at three Olympics and 20 at world championships.

The 30-year-old sprinter had signalled her retirement earlier this yr on the Paris Olympics after profitable a gold, silver and bronze in relays to assist Australia to its most profitable Summer season Video games.

“I’ll undoubtedly miss it … It is introduced me loads of nice relationships and formed me into the individual I’m,” McKeon mentioned within the assertion confirming her retirement.

“However I am undoubtedly prepared for the subsequent a part of my life, which I am excited for. I do not assume I’ve had the time to mirror on every thing but.”

McKeon missed out on the London Olympics as a teen however hit her stride in Rio in 2016 the place she gained her first gold within the 4×100 metre relay in addition to silvers in two different relays and a bronze within the 200m freestyle.

In Tokyo in 2021, she gained the 100m and 50m freestyle dash titles which, together with two relay golds and three bronze medals, gave her the most important medal haul for a single athlete on the delayed Video games.

“She was and can proceed to be an important function mannequin for youthful athletes,” mentioned Australia’s swimming coach Rohan Taylor.

“She all the time carried herself with dignity, and whereas all of us noticed her grace – the general public can’t really admire how powerful she is.”

Taylor and McKeon’s uncle, Swimming Australia chief government Rob Woodhouse, each picked out her triumph within the 100m freestyle in Tokyo, when she completed 0.31 seconds forward of Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey, because the spotlight of her profession.

“The 100m freestyle was one of many biggest races I’ve ever watched however I’ve additionally beloved watching her advocate for these arising by means of the ranks,” mentioned Woodhouse.

In addition to her six Olympic golds and 5 world titles, McKeon was additionally a part of relay groups which set eight world data within the pool, three of which nonetheless stand.

Reflecting on lacking out on the crew for the London Video games, McKeon mentioned she hoped her story would encourage younger athletes to stick with their goals.

“You’ve ups and you’ve got downs. You simply maintain going alongside and you retain ticking the containers. I can not imagine the place I am at proper now and the way I received right here,” she added. “I would like younger children to know that I used to be as soon as in the identical place they’re – dreaming of at some point doing one thing huge.”