“I never got to spend time with my family”: Ariarne Titmus reflects on her decision to retire
Australian swimming star Ariarne Titmus, an eight-time Olympic medallist, has opened up about her choice to retire from competitive swimming at just 25 years old. Her decision came after realizing she had long sacrificed personal time for her sport.
After winning multiple Olympic titles, Titmus stunned the sports world when she announced last month that her year-long break from swimming had become permanent. She first revealed her decision on social media and later expanded on it in an interview with Stellar Magazine.
“I’ve lived my life not caring that I never got to spend birthdays with my friends or attend family events because I had to be in bed for training.”
“I didn’t really get to enjoy time with my family over Christmas or Easter, because my focus was always on swimming.”
Titmus admitted that her relationship with her partner, Mack, also shaped her perspective on moving away from a life entirely centered around sport.
“I met my partner right after the Olympics, and I wasn’t willing to return to the life I’d always known, one where I constantly put my family second. Swimming has always come first, and they’ve understood that. But to be an athlete, you have to be a bit selfish.”
Balancing fame and fulfillment
The athlete said that while success brought pride, it also made her realize the cost of missing moments with family and friends. Retirement, she explained, offers her a chance to reconnect with loved ones and rediscover balance beyond the pool.
Author’s Summary: Ariarne Titmus retired at 25 to reclaim the family time and personal freedom she had long given up for her exceptional swimming career.