Anna Hopkin, Britain's Pocket-Rocket Sprint Pioneer & Olympic Mixed Medley Champ, Retires
"I feel lucky to leave the sport with no regrets, proud of my journey and confident in the person I have become! It’s been an honour to represent my country at all levels of the sport and experience the highs, lows and emotions of being an athlete." - Anna Hopkin
Anna Hopkin, the Loughborough-based sprinter who claimed Olympic and World titles as a member of Great Britain mixed medley relays, has announced her retirement.
Hopkin, national record holder in he 50 and 100m freestyle, defied the questionable 'law of sprinting', the one that says you have to be built big, rather than recognising the athlete's nature and power within.
Announcing her decision to move on after a fine international career that included team gold at Tokyo2020ne and team and bronzes in relays at World long-course championships in 2023 and 2024, as well as a bronze in the 50m freestyle at the 2022 World short-course Championships, Hopkin noted:
"I feel lucky to leave the sport with no regrets, proud of my journey and confident in the person I have become! It’s been an honour to represent my country at all levels of the sport and experience the highs, lows and emotions of being an athlete. It’s not always been easy but it’s always been worth it."
She added:
"I can’t thank people enough for the part they have played along the way, particularly Neil Harper and Mel Marshall for being incredible coaches and friends. And of course my family and friends for following me around the world, picking me up when I’m down and celebrating every single moment with me.
There is only so far you can go on your own and the support and love I have had around me has been second to none ❤️ "
Anna Hopkin claimed Olympic gold alongside TeamGB mates Kathleen Dawson, Adam Peaty and James Guy in the pioneering Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay quartet at the dawn of the event: the mixed medley was was introduced at Tokyo 2020 and Great Britain established a World record that lasted until he Paris 2024 final. The detail:
Great Britain - 3:37.58 WR, Tokyo 2020ne
Kathleen Dawson (58.80); Adam Peaty (56.78) James Guy (50.00) Anna Hopkin (52.00) - 31 July 2021
United States - 3:37.43 WR Paris 2024
Ryan Murphy (52.08) Nic Fink (58.29) Gretchen Walsh (55.18) Torri Huske (51.88) - 3 August 2024
Aquatics GB summed paid plaudits to Hopkin on social media:
Olympic champion 🥇✅
— Aquatics GB (@Aquatics_GB) December 18, 2024
World, European & Commonwealth medallist 🌟✅
British record holder 🇬🇧✅
Congratulations to the retiring @annahopkin on an incredible career in the pool - we know her ambition to keep making impacts in and out of the water is going to continue from here 👏 pic.twitter.com/61xLD3S3Q6
