Ariarne Titmus Explains Why She Quit Swimming at 25
The Tasmanian swimmer rose to fame after winning her third individual gold medal at the Paris Olympics last year. Four-time Olympic gold medalist Ariarne Titmus recently revealed the heartfelt reason behind her surprising decision to retire from competitive swimming.
Reason Behind Retirement
Nearly a month ago, Titmus announced her retirement with a vague statement that certain aspects of her life had become more important to her than swimming. She has now clarified those priorities:
- Her new romantic partner, Mac Powell
- Her family
Ariarne Titmus on Personal Life and Sacrifices
"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," Titmus told News Corp. "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."
She also shared that she met her partner shortly after the Paris Olympics and was unwilling to delay that relationship because of her career.
Summary
Ariarne Titmus stepped away from swimming to focus on her new relationship and family, choosing personal happiness over athletic success at the peak of her career.
Author's note: Titmus’s decision highlights the often unseen personal sacrifices elite athletes make and her choice for love and family over competition.