Aussie Olympic gold medallist Brianna Throssell drops retirement bombshell

After an incredible Paris Olympics the Australian gold medallist has decided to make a tough call to walk away from the sport.

Australian Olympic champion Brianna Throssell has sent shockwaves through the swimming world by announcing her retirement from professional swimming effective immediately.

A stalwart of the women’s 4x200m relay team, Throssell helped lift the Australian 4x200m to gold at the Paris Games, setting a new Olympic record of 7:30.07 in the process.

Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

And while after claiming gold, the 29-year-old hinted she likely wouldn’t be back for the Las Angeles games, her retirement has come much sooner, announcing the news this week.

Throssell said she wants to now focus on her life outside the pool, calling time on an incredible career which included 39 international medals, of which four of them are Olympic medals.

Brianna Throssell (left) has announced her retirement. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

The Olympic gold medallist said she was originally planning to race at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore in July and the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2026, but after a whirlwind few months of personal news, she decided the time was right to step away from the sport for good.

“I just knew it was time,” she said in a Swimming Australia statement.

“I’ll forever cherish the memories, friendships, and experiences … it’s been an incredible journey, but now I am ready for a new chapter.

“The lessons I’ve learned—about perseverance, teamwork, and the pursuit of excellence—will remain with me as I move forward, but I am ready, and it was so, so wonderful to finish the way I did,” she said.

NANTERRE, FRANCE – AUGUST 01: Gold medallists Lani Pallister, Brianna Throssell, Ariarne Titmus and Mollie O'Callaghan of Team Australia pose during the Swimming medal ceremony after the Women's 4x200m Freestyle Relay Final on day six of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Paris La Defense Arena on August 01, 2024 in Nanterre, France. (Photo by Xavier Laine/Getty Images)

Combining with Mollie O’Callaghan, Lani Pallister and Ariarne Titmus to win the second gold medal of her career was a fitting end to Throssell’s career.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better career finale. I still love the sport and really want to inspire the next generation because, truly, swimming has taught me so much. I have so many people to thank … but to my parents and Dean (Boxall), to Josh (Milner) and all the Dolphins … thank you. I just feel so grateful.”

She has since declared she is joining Deloitte’s Mergers and Acquisitions team in Melbourne, where Throssell now plans to put her business degree to “good use”.

Originally published as Aussie Olympic gold medallist Brianna Throssell drops retirement bombshell