'You'll always find me near the water': Four-time Olympian Emily Seebohm confirms retirement
After years of early mornings and racing, Australian Olympic swimmer Emily Seebohm has officially hung up her goggles.
The backstroke star confirmed her retirement on social media on Wednesday, stating the New Year would be a time used to "find my next thing."
A mother to son Sampson, born in September 2023, Seebohm's career in the pool saw her compete in four Olympic Games, and become a five-time World Champion and four-time world record holder.
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Making her Olympic debut in Beijing in 2008 at the age of 16, Seebohm has won three gold, three silver and one bronze medal.
The 32-year-old attempted to become the third Australian swimmer to compete at the Olympics after giving birth but missed out on her dream to eventual gold-medallist Kaylee McKeown.
Emily Seebohm (left) and Kaylee McKeown at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images
The only other athletes to have achieved the feat were Lisa Curry at Barcelona 1992 and Hayley Lewis at Sydney 2000.
The last major medal she had won before heading into the Paris Olympic trials was at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Seebohm expressed her gratitude for those who had allowed her to pursue "every opportunity under the sun" in a bid to achieve her dreams in her parting message.
"Swimming has been the biggest thing in my life since making my first Australian Open team at 14 in 2007," she wrote in a post on Instagram.
"I have travelled so much of the world being an Australian Dolphin.
"It meant the world to me to be able to do what I did and I had a blast!
"You'll always find me near the water just maybe not behind the blocks.
"Dolphin 654, hanging up the green and gold."
Emily Seebohm poses with the bronze medal she won in the 200m backstroke at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Clive Rose/Getty Images
Messages from the backstroke star's Dolphins teammates, current and former, were quick to flood social media.
"Congratulations on an incredible career. All the best for your next chapter," two-time gold medallist Shayna Jack wrote.
"Love you Em. Had some ripper times. Always making swimming fun and interesting," Georgia Bohl added.
Jenna Strauch said: "You are an inspiration. Thank you for being you and sharing your talent and fun with us all."
