Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
CARY – Chloe Sutton, the only American to compete in the Olympic Games in both the pool and open water, announced her retirement from competitive swimming today. The announcement comes as she celebrates her 23rd birthday, marking the start of not only a new year but a new chapter in a very accomplished life.
Sutton became internationally known at an early age, winning the inaugural 10K open water swim at the Pan Pacific championships at 14 years old. The following year, she took gold at the Pan American Games, setting herself up for an Olympic appearance at just 16 years old in the first 10K Olympic race.
Photo Courtesy: Swimming World
Sutton did not win a medal in the 10K in Beijing, finishing in 22nd place out of 25 competitors, but she had the makings of an open water star. She surprised the swimming community the following year by focusing on pool events, making Team USA’s world championship team in the 400 and 800 freestyles. She won her first national title in 2009, winning the 800 free over Haley Anderson, who was on her way to transitioning from a star pool swimmer to star open water swimmer.
800 freestyle results, 2009 USA Swimming nationals
Sutton made big news later that year by announcing her decision to become a professional swimmer, and at age 16 became one of the youngest professional swimmers in the world. She immediately landed David Arluck as an agent and secured sponsorship deals.
Sutton’s upward trajectory continued in the pool in 2010 when she defended her 800 freestyle national title and qualified for the Pan Pacific championships for the second time. With her focus squarely on the pool, Sutton won her first major international gold medal in the pool, taking the win in the 400 freestyle at Pan Pacs.
Sutton returned to the world championships, this time making the final of the 800 free in Shanghai. She missed a place on the medal podium by just seven tenths of a second, placing fourth with an 8:24.05.
Sutton made history with a second-place finish in the 400 freestyle at the 2012 Olympic Trials, getting a ticket to London for a second Olympic appearance. In what would be her final major long course international competition, Sutton placed 10th in the Olympics in the 400 freestyle.
In her pursuit to appear at a third Olympic Games, she moved from the Mission Viejo Nadadores and longtime coach Bill Rose to North Carolina with the new Seal Innovation Team. Sutton will not completely disappear from the sport, as she is going to be heavily involved with the Fitter & Faster Swim Tour.