By Hideki Mochizuki, Swimming World’s Japanese correspondent
TOKYO, Japan, December 3. AYA Terakawa, the women’s 100 back bronze medalist in the 2012 London Olympics, has decided to retire from competitive swimming. Terakawa plans to announce her retirement during a press conference slated for tomorrow in Japan.
Terakawa, 29, finished eighth in the 200 back at the 2004 Athens Games before missing the chance to represent Japan at the 2008 Beijing Games. Terakawa used that failure to find a career resurgence by 2010, where she took silver in the 50 back and 100 back at the Pan Pacific Championships. She also helped Japan to bronze in the 400 medley relay that year as well.
In 2011 in Shanghai, Terakawa also claimed silver in the 50 back at the World Championships, before her bronze medals at the 2012 London Olympics.
This year, she closed out her career with bronzes in the 50 and 100 back at the Barcelona World Championships.