Ariarne Titmus Explains Why She Quit Swimming at 25
The Tasmanian swimmer became widely known after winning her third individual gold medal at the Paris Olympics last year. Four-time Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus recently revealed the touching reason behind her decision to retire from swimming at just 25 years old.
Choosing Love and Family Over Career
Titmus dropped the news about a month ago, initially giving a vague reason: "Some things in my life that have always been important to me are just a little bit more important to me now than swimming." She has since clarified that these priorities are her new partner, Mac Powell, and her family.
"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."
"I also met my partner right after the [Paris] Olympics. I wasn't willing to put that on the backburner."
Reflection on Athletic Life
Her statement highlights the sacrifices elite athletes often make, especially the need to put their careers first, sometimes at the cost of personal relationships. For Titmus, the decision to prioritize love and family marked a pivotal moment.
Summary
Ariarne Titmus chose to retire early to focus on her newly found love and family, prioritizing personal happiness over her swimming career.