Libby Trickett retires from swimming

Posted December 14, 2009 12:39:00
Updated December 14, 2009 12:42:00

Triple Olympic gold medallist Libby Trickett has announced her retirement from professional swimming.

Trickett had been seriously pondering her future since a disappointing world championships campaign in Rome in August.

The eight-time world champion took home a silver and two bronze medals from Rome, the first world or Olympic meeting in five years from which she did not return with a gold.

The 24-year-old refused to wear the controversial polyurethane speed-suit, which will be banned from January 1.

She said the decision to call it quits was the most difficult of her life, but she is now comfortable with it.

"It's something that I've been thinking about for almost a year now, and after much consideration and speaking with my family and close friends, I know that I am ready to move on to the next stage of my life and career," she said.

"Swimming is such a great sport to be involved with and has been a huge part of my life for such a long time.

"Through swimming, I've been able to travel the world doing something that I love and this great sport has provided me with so many fantastic memories and opportunities.

"I would like to thank everyone for their fantastic support throughout my career, especially my family and coaches Stephan Widmer and Grant Stoelwinder."

Swimming Australia president David Urquhart said Trickett had made an outstanding contribution to the success and culture of the Australian swimming team since joining it seven years ago.

"Libby was a member of the team from a young age, but always conducted herself with the utmost professionalism and respect for the sport," he said.

"She has been a member of the leadership group for the last five years, and in that sense we hope she can stay involved with the sport at some level, to pass on her great knowledge and experience."

The eight-time world champion last competed at the short course championships in Hobart, setting a 100 metres world record of 51.01 seconds which withstood an onslaught at the recent World Cup series.

Trickett said she plans to spend more time with her family and explore media avenues with Channel Ten.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/14/2770897.htm

Sad news, she was one of the best female swimmers we've had. 3 Olympic gold medals and 3-4 world records, as well as 15 World Championships gold medals and 5 Commonwealth gold medals. Hopefully she joins Channel Nine (instead of Ten) as they usually show all the swimming and she can be a commentator. If not, she can still find a sporting avenue hopefully with Channel Ten. I wish her the best of luck for the future

she had a brilliant career and i think has choose a good time to give it up...

I just hope Phelps sticks with it!.

Because amazing swimmers just don't last. Thorpey and now Trickett.

It's dissapointing, You don't see Federer deciding to quit tennis or Woods golf etc.

Libby don't do it oh wait you have quit but you have had a lot of acheivements in your career so great effort she will probs now do something at uni

Jeez, I'm going to miss her smile and that amazing set of teeth she had.

Nevertheless, I actually really liked her as a person. Great girl, fantastic swimmer, she'll be miss dearly.

She refused to wear those super suits? Then she's sixteen kinds of awesome.