Ariarne Titmus Finds Life Beyond The Black Line "Just a Little Bit More Important to Me"
Dolphin 778, Olympic 400m Free Champion and first Australian woman to retain an Olympic crown in the pool since Dawn Fraser in 1964 announces her retirement from swimming with immediate effect
Australia's four-time Olympic gold medallist and reigning 400m freestyle champion Ariarne Titmus has retired from the fast lane, having decided that the rest of life was "just a little bit more important to me now than swimming".
The 25-year-old leaves the sport with eight Olympic medals and a status as the first Australian woman since Dawn Fraser in 1964 to retain an Olympic title (400m free) in the pool and the first since Shane Gould in 1972 to hold the 200 and 400m World records simultaneously.
Worth noting: Fraser was the founding member of swimming's Olympic triple crown club in 1964, when she became the first swimmer ever to retain the 100m freestyle title for the third time (1956, 1960, 1964). Gould, who remains the only woman ever to claim five solo Olympic podiums at a single Games in swimming, held every World freestyle record, 100m to 1500m freestyle at the same time.
Now, Gould's book on athlete transition may be useful to Titmus:
Craig Lord
In Paris last year, in the fastest first-to-eighth 400m free final since the event was introduced for women in 1920, Titmus kept the title in 3:57.49, Canadian Summer McIntosh taking silver in 3:58.37, while in 4:00.86, Katie Ledecky, of the USA, took bronze.
You have to go back to 1928 to find the first and only other woman to have ever won the 400m title more than once - Martha Norelius of the USA:
Craig Lord
The Dolphins official social media pages paid plaudits to Dolphin 778 - the Fearless" Titmus - stating:
"Congrats on a wonderful career Arnie - From 2014 Age Champs to your first Australian team in 2017 to winning back-to-back Olympic gold ... we thank you for all you did and we know you won’t be lost to swimming!Once a Dolphin, always a Dolphin ..."
Moments of glory - Ariarne Titmus - all photos by Patrick B. Kraemer (all rights reserved)
Titmus, whose family moved from Tasmania to Queensland so that their daughter could train with coach Dean Boxall at St Peters Western in Brisbane, leaves the elite sport with eight medals from two Games, Tokyo202One and Paris 2024.
Craig Lord
Craig Lord
Swimming Australia confirmed Titmus' decision today. After gold in the 400m and 4x200m in Paris, as well as silver medals in the 200m behind teammate Molly O'Callaghan and 800m free behind Katie Ledecky, Titmus took a break from swimming.
Titmus had intended to make 2026 here comeback year, with 2027 her first scheduled return to World long-course championships a year out from the LA2028 Olympics.
That's not to be. On Instagram, Titmus, who in the lead-up to Paris underwent surgery to remove an ovarian tumour, writes:
"It's a tough one but one that I'm really happy with. I've always loved swimming, it's been my passion since I was a little girl. But I guess I've taken this time away from the sport and realised some things in my life that have always been important to me are just a little bit more important to me now than swimming. That's OK, but here we are."
Alongside a video in which she explains her feelings, Titmus also posted this note to her 7-year-old self:
Dear seven year old Ariarne,
Today you retire from competitive swimming. 18 years you spent in the pool competing. 10 of those representing your country. You went to two Olympic Games and even better, you won!!!
The dreams you had.. they all came true. The friends you’ve made.. they’re for life. You achieved more than you ever thought you were capable of and you should be so proud.
Along the journey you’ve met some incredible people who have helped all the way. Your coaches (one very special one in particular), your support staff, team mates, competitors, sponsors, friends, family and fans. Make sure you thank them.
You do pack up and move away from your home at 14, what a tough decision it was to leave. Mum and Dad saw the glimmer in your eye and sacrificed everything to move. Without them, alongside Mia - you wouldn’t be here today.
You’ve just turned 25 and the time feels right to step away from swimming. The pursuit was unrelenting and you gave it every skerrick of yourself. You walk away knowing every stone was turned, no regrets. You’re fulfilled, content and happy.
What’s ahead for you is exciting. New goals, more time with the people you love most and the chance to wholeheartedly put yourself, not your sport first.
Make sure you enjoy every moment, big or small. Trust me, time flies.
All my love,
A ❤️
Titmus' decision comes after a 2025 season in which Summer McIntosh claimed the World 400m title along with three other crowns and a bronze in an 800m freestyle behind Ledecky and Australian Lani Pallister on 8:05s, the Australian record having passed to Pallister in 8:10 at trials before she crushed it in Singapore.
Craig Lord
Craig Lord
During her career, Titmus set world records in the 200m and 400m freestyle. Her 1:52.23 from Australian Olympic trials in Brisbane last year is the standing global high bar in the 200m.
Titmus swam the time at the 2024 Australian Olympic trials in Brisbane. She also twice broke the 400m freestyle world record, her global and Commonwealth standards of 3:55.38 confined to an Australian record by McIntosh in 3:54.18 in June this year on her way to three Olympic golds (200m butterfly, 200 and 400IM) and a silver (400m free) in Paris.
Titmus also claimed nine world championship medals, including four gold, ands seven golds and a silver at the Commonwealth Games, at Gold Coast in 2018 and Birmingham in 2022.
As yet, there is no deeper explanation of what Ariarne Titmus might be doing in life from now on.
Time will tell, as it did in the pool. All best for what comes, Ariarne...
Ariarne Titmus (clockwise from top left), with a World Champs commentary team that included Cate Campbell, left, and Ian Thorpe, right), in action, and with Lani Pallister at Olympic trials in Brisbane in 2024 - all images courtesy of Swimming Australia
