Two time Olympian Melanie Wright announced her retirement from the sport of swimming, after failing to make the finals of the 100 freestyle at the 2016 Australian Championships. The 29 year old finished 13th in the semi finals with a 55.28.
Wright shared the news on social media, reflecting on how thankful she is for her 15 year journey in the sport. She had only been back in the water for three weeks, following a January rib injury that kept her out of the water for seven weeks.
“Despite injury, I hang up my goggles without disappointment or regret. Throughout my career I did everything in my power to be the best athlete I could be and this week has been no different,” Wright posted on Facebook.
She still plans to swim the 50 freestyle on Wednesday so that she may “go out with a smile on my face.”
“I thought it would be quite easy but even just today it’s been quite emotional,” Wright told ABC News.
In 2008, Wright (then Schlanger) won Olympic gold as a member of the Australian 800 freestyle relay and bronze in the 400 freestyle relay. In 2012, she anchored the Australian 400 freestyle relay to gold, the nation’s only swimming gold medal in London.
Next up for Wright will be medical school on the Gold Coast at Bond University.
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Some endings offer interesting beginnings.
On to Medical School! Good for her.