Ariarne Titmus Reveals Why She Quit Swimming at 25
The Tasmanian swimming star became widely known after winning her third individual gold at the Paris Olympics last year. Four-time Olympic gold medallist Ariarne Titmus recently opened up about the heartfelt reason behind her surprising retirement, explaining it was motivated by love.
Her Initial Announcement
About a month ago, the 25-year-old announced her decision to quit competitive swimming with a vague explanation: "Some things in my life that have always been important to me are just a little bit more important to me now than swimming."
Clarifying the Decision
Now, Titmus has made clear what she meant: her new partner Mac Powell and her family. She shared with News Corp the personal side of her choice.
"In my personal life – and this was really the crux of the decision – you have to be quite a selfish person to be an athlete. I've lived my life not caring that I never got to spend birthdays with friends or never being able to go to family events ... but I wasn't willing to go back to the life where I made the decision to put my family second."
"I also met my partner right after the [Paris] Olympics. I wasn't willing to put that on the backburner."
Balancing Love and Career
Titmus emphasized the sacrifice required in elite sport and that prioritizing family and love was more important to her than continuing her demanding athletic career.
Summary: Ariarne Titmus retired from swimming at 25 to prioritize her family and new relationship, valuing personal life over the sacrifices required by elite sport.
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