Emma McKeon: Australia’s most prolific Olympic medal-winning athlete announces retirement

Australia’s most prolific Olympic medal-winning athlete and one of the greatest swimmers of all time, Emma McKeon, has announced here retirement.

McKeon, 30, took to social media to announce here official retirement at the elite level on Monday.

Originally from Wollongong the Aussie swmming golden girl will hang up her oggles with a staggering 14 Olympic medla including six gold.

“Today I am officially retiring from competitive swimming,” McKeon said.

“Leading into Paris, I knew it would be my last Olympics, and the months since have given me time to reflect on my journey, and think about what I wanted my future to look like in swimming.

“I am proud of myself for giving my swimming career absolutely everything, both physically and mentally.

“I wanted to see what I was capable of - and I did. Swimming has given me so much. From the dream igniting at five years old, right through to my third Olympic Games - I have so many lessons, experiences, friendships and memories that I am so thankful for.

After a competing at the Paris Olympics it was widely tipped that the 2024 games would be here last and she confirmed that the latest campaign had been one of the most difficult.

“If I look back at that young person - I think I was 17 when I missed London - you couldn’t have told her that I was going to go on to do this,” she said.

“It’s just persisting, you have ups and you have downs. You just keep going along and you keep ticking the boxes. I can’t believe where I’m at right now and how I got here.”

“Leading in to Paris was definitely the hardest preparation I have had. I lost a lot of confidence in my swimming and felt a lot of pressure to back-up what I had done in Tokyo. But I’m proud of how I handled it and proud I could still step up for my team while feeling the self-doubt.

“Great things take time, and the long road there is where all the necessary things are learnt to take us to the next level. I will definitely miss it ... It’s brought me a lot of great relationships and shaped me into the person I am.

“But I’m definitely ready for the next part of my life, which I’m excited for. I don’t think I’ve had the time to reflect on everything yet.

“I want young kids to know that I was once in the same position they are - dreaming of one day doing something big.

“And I want to have an impact on people’s lives by encouraging them to push hard and go after their dreams and what they are passionate about. Don’t be afraid to take on hard things and set aspirational goals, that may at time be scary. This is how we push ourselves to achieve our dreams.”