Two mainstays on the USA Swimming National Team have announced their retirement from the sport of swimming. Both Jake Foster and Dakota Luther made the announcement on their personal social media.
Foster, who finished sixth in the 100 breaststroke and seventh in the 200 breaststroke, is set to begin the next stage of his life on Monday. On his personal Instagram account he announced his retirement.
“Officially a swammer! #retired Thank you to everyone in this sport that I’ve crossed paths with. The people I’ve met have always been what’s meant the most to me. That’s the reason why the goodbye is so hard! Swimming has given me so much to be grateful for and it will always hold a special place in my heart. In the meantime, I’m excited to start classes at Dell Medical School on Monday! As one chapter of my life comes to a close, I’m excited to start writing the next one.”
Foster swam collegiately at the University of Texas and was a nine-time All-American for the Longhorns and helped contribute to the NCAA Team Title in 2021. On the international level Foster was a two-time Gold Medalist at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha. He brought home medals in Men’s and Mixed 4×100 Medley Relays. Foster’s accomplishments outside of the pool are just as impressive as what he was able to accomplish in it. Foster was named to the Big 12 Dean’s list eight times and brought home academic awards every year he was with the Longhorns.
USA Swimming National teamer Dakota Luther also announced her retirement from swimming. Luther made the announcement on her personal social media.
“God is good!!🤗 I promised myself a long time ago that I would walk away from swimming still in-love with the sport. I am happy to say that I have kept that promise & that the 200 fly will be my final race. Although it wasn’t the fairytale ending that I dreamed about, throughout this pursuit of excellence I have gained so much more. And I would do (almost) all of it over again in a heartbeat. To all of those that were a part of my journey & supported me through the many ups & downs, it has meant the world to me. I treasure the relationships, experiences, and places that I got to see the most. It is ultimately what made it all worth it in the end. I am not sure what is next for me just yet, but I know it will be great.”
Luther, the daughter of 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist and Texas alum Whitney Hedgepath, swam collegiately for the University of Georgia and Texas. During her time with the Longhorns Luther helped contribute to the teams 2023 NCAA Runner-Up finish; the highest finish for Texas since her mother swam there in 1994. Specializing in butterfly, on the international stage Luther won a gold-medal at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in 2022. In 2017 Luther was a part of the US contingent at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, where she competed in the 200 butterfly and finished 15th.