Hasta La Vista, Baby

CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT

The ‘terminator’ of Australian swimming, Ariarne Titmus, has announced her shock retirement from swimming today.

The 25-year-old will retire as one of the greatest distance swimmers of all time, with four Olympic Gold medals to her name and a trophy cabinet stacked with 29 more international medals – including three Olympics silvers, one bronze, and four world titles.

She leaves the pool as the current 200m world record-holder, and the first Australian athlete since fellow swimmer Dawn Fraser in 1964 to win back-to-back gold medals in the same event.

Colloquially known as ‘Arnie’ – the Tasmanian pool-cyborg said she expected to return to swimming after a break after the Olympics, but changed her mind, noting that it’s a decision that she is really happy with – because there is no fate but what we make for ourselves.

While Australian swimmers are known for coming out of retirement for cameo Olympic appearances, Arnie has not yet said anything that could be interpreted as ‘I’ll Be Back’.

Today, she is being farewelled and congratulated by the millions of Australians that she brought life to during the pandemic years. Hasta La Vista, Baby.