Dolphin No 755, Madi Wilson, has leapt out of the fast lane and into the rest of life. Here's her farewell announcement, with plaudits from Rohan Taylor, head coach , courtesy of Swimming Australia:

Babies are such a nice way to start people … and the perfect start to retirement.

Dual Olympian, Olympic medallist and Dolphins team leader Madi Wilson announced her retirement this week content to have finally claimed the one remining title on her bucket list, the title of mum.

Dolphin #755, has been a mainstay of Australia's successful relay events for more than a decade and has collected an impressive haul of four Olympic medals, five Commonwealth Games medals, including four gold, and 17 World Championships medals.

Wilson discovered she was pregnant on Christmas Day 2023, seven months out from the Paris Olympics, and while she missed the 2024 Games she wasn’t quite ready to call time on her stunning Australian swimming career.

With the support of her fiancé, Australian cricketer Matt Short, the 30-year-old was back in the water following the birth of Austin, who is nicknamed “Aussie” but the call - and juggle – of motherhood had her this week call time on competitive swimming.

Swimming Australia today thanked and congratulated Wilson on her unwavering commitment to the sport as a model athlete and team leader, and her legacy continues to shine in the likes of Olympic silver medallist Meg Harris and in the culture of her Dolphins’ teammates. Said Wilson:

“It’s so overwhelming to look back on my swimming career but it’s the friendships I made that I am most proud of. I thought I would come back and compete after Aussie (Austin) was born and while it’s hard to co-ordinate sporting schedules with Matt, it’s more I don’t want to miss anything.

"I am just so excited about what lies ahead.

“And it’s not the medals or podiums that I get emotional about … it’s that I was able to earn the trust of the team, and the girls in particular. That they come to me to chat about their health, their lives, their families … and now it’s time for the next generation to come through.

"I was Meg’s (Harris) first roommate at a National Event Camp when she was a junior and now she will be an Aunty to our son … that full cycle and things like seeing Aussie sit up for the first time is worth more than any gold medal – you could say I have new perspective!

"I am also so proud to help change the culture in our team that we now all enjoy each other’s achievements. It’s an individual sport but there is definitely greater sense of team.

"About 17 years ago I made my first junior Australian swim team, swimming has been the biggest part of my life and my identity for the better part of nearly two decades. I just feel so much gratitude for what I have achieved but also what is ahead of me.”

Born in Roma, in western Queensland, Wilson made her Dolphins debut as a backstroker at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, and qualifying for finals in all three of her events.

In 2016, Wilson made her Olympic Games debut at Rio, winning gold as a heat swimmer in the women's 4x100m freestyle relay and again in Tokyo.

Wilson also picked up a silver in Rio in the women's 4x100m medley relay and completed her Olympic medal collection when she won bronze in an Oceania record time in the women's 4x200m freestyle relay in Tokyo.

Head Coach Rohan Taylor credited Australia's ongoing relay success to Wilson's leadership and legacy.  He said:

“Madi is a tenacious athlete and a great leader. No matter the event or line-up Madi gave it her all and demonstrated unmatched leadership qualities. In particular, Madi's presence on the team provided confidence to the younger athletes and she set an exemplary standard of what it means to be a Dolphin. This in turn is the long-lasting legacy that she will leave on the sport and inspire the next wave of athletes.

“Madi was incredibly passionate about the growth of the Dolphins team and a trusted advocate for the athletes. It was a great pleasure to work with her, particularly in that space so it's always bittersweet to see a natural leader like that go. But Madi has many exciting things ahead and family is a top priority for her that she more than deserves."

Swimming Australia wishes Wilson and her family all the best in the future.
 
 
Career Snapshot:

• Wilson collected 24 career World Championships, with 17 in long-course competition. Eleven of her Worlds medals were golds. All 24 were for her participation in relays save for a silver medal in the 100 backstroke at the 2015 World Championships in Kazan.
• Wilson won four relay golds and bronze in the 200 free at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Wilson also won individual bronze in the 200m free.
• Wilson was the 200 backstroke champion in the 2013 World University Games, a bronze medallist at Junior Pan Pacs in 2010 and a Youth Olympic Games relay gold medallist way back in 2010.
• She was part of six relays that set world records, including the existing women’s 200 medley relay short-course mark, from the 2022 World Championships in Melbourne that Wilson anchored.
• 2016 Rio Olympics: Heat swimmer in the women's 4x100m freestyle and women's 4x100m medley to help the team to gold and silver respectively.
• World Short Course (25m): In 2014 at Qatar World Short Course, Wilson won silver in the women's 4x100m medley and 4x200m frees relay. At 2022 Melbourne Short Course, Wilson was part of three relay world records (4x100m and 4x200m free; 4x50m medley relay). She also won silver as part of the women's 4x50m free and mixed 4x50m free relay.
• Swimming World Cups: In total, Wilson won 45 World Cup medals, including 11 gold, 17 silver and 17 bronze.

Fare well, Madi Wilson