Australian swimming sensation Ariarne Titmus has announced her retirement from competitive swimming at the age of 25, marking the end of an illustrious career that saw her clinch four Olympic gold medals and set world records. In a heartfelt Instagram post on Thursday, Titmus revealed that the decision to step away from the sport was a difficult but fulfilling one. ‘The time feels right to step away,’ she wrote, reflecting on her 18-year journey in swimming. ‘I’ve always loved swimming, it’s been my passion since I was a little girl.’ Titmus, who took a break after the 2024 Paris Olympics, shared that she had come to realize other aspects of life now held greater importance. The world record holder in the 200m freestyle, Titmus retires with an impressive tally of 32 international medals, including eight Olympic medals. Her career highlights include victories in the 400m freestyle at both the Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 Olympics, as well as gold in the 200m freestyle in Tokyo and a team gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay in Paris. Titmus also opened up about the health challenges she faced, including surgery to remove an ovarian tumor before the Paris Games, which she described as a mentally taxing experience. In a poignant letter to her seven-year-old self, Titmus expressed pride in her relentless pursuit of excellence, stating, ‘You walk away knowing every stone was turned, no regrets. You’re fulfilled, content, and happy.’ Tributes poured in from fellow swimmers, including American rival Katie Ledecky, who hailed Titmus as an ‘outstanding competitor, champion, and person,’ and Australian teammate Mollie O’Callaghan, who celebrated her ‘amazing career.’