Commonwealth Games Australia applauds the outstanding career of Ariarne Titmus OAM, with the seven-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist today announcing her retirement from swimming.
Titmus made an immediate impact at her first Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in 2018, winning three gold medals and a silver.
Four years later at Birmingham 2022, she created a slice of Games history, becoming just the second swimmer to claim the 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle treble, all in Games record times, a feat previously achieved only by fellow Australian Karen Moras at Edinburgh 1970. She also helped the Australian women’s 4x200m freestyle relay reclaim the world record.
Her performances on the world stage soon captured global attention. Titmus famously defeated American great Katie Ledecky to win the 400m freestyle at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju, before anchoring the 4x200m freestyle relay to another world record.
She cemented her place among the sport’s all-time greats across the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games, finishing her Olympic career with eight medals, four of them gold.
“It’s a tough one but one that I’m really happy with,” Titmus said in an Instagram post reflecting on her decision.
“I’ve always loved swimming; it’s been my passion since I was a little girl.
“But I guess I’ve taken this time away from the sport and realised some things in my life that have always been important to me are just a little bit more important to me now than swimming.”
Commonwealth Games Australia CEO Craig Phillips AM praised Titmus for her extraordinary achievements and lasting influence on the sport.
“Ariarne has been nothing short of exceptional throughout her career, a fierce competitor in the pool and a wonderful ambassador for Australian sport,” Phillips said.
“Her achievements on the Commonwealth Games stage are part of an incredible body of work that has inspired teammates, fans and young athletes right across the country.
“We thank Ariarne for the way she has represented Australia with pride and passion, and we look forward to seeing what she achieves in the next chapter of her life.”
