Lithuanian Olympic Champion Ruta Meilutyte has announced her retirement from swimming, according to a report from the Associated Press.
In a statement that was posted on the Lithuanian Swimming Federation website, Meilutyte explained that she would be forgoing a run at a third Olympic Games to instead focus on her education and growing outside of the pool:
“I have given all of myself to swimming. I used to live with it since my early years. Due to a busy workout schedule, I had to compromise my studies, but I want to start again now. I want to do simple things now, to grow, understand myself and the world around me in a better way.”
In that same statement E.Vitkaitis the President of the Lithuanian Swimming Federation, praised Meilutyte for her contributions to Lithuanian Swimming:
“I want to thank Rūta for her huge contribution on behalf of our entire community. Her achievements inspired not only us, but also Lithuania as a whole. The victories won have become legendary, and her determination and commitment to the country only once again confirms that even in the small world, we can pick up great victories.”
Meilutyte won gold in the 100 breaststroke at the age of 15 in the 2012 London Olympic Games, becoming the first Lithuanian swimmer ever to medal at an Olympics. The next year, at the 2013 FINA World Championships in Barcelona, she broke the world record in the 100 breast in semi-finals, posting a 1:04.35 before going on to win gold in the event. She also broke the world record in the 50 breast in semi-finals before finishing second in the finals.
The Lithuanian would go on to win silver in that same event at the 2015 World Championships and gold in the 2016 European Games, but was left off the medal stand at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Her most recent international appearance was at the 2018 FINA Short Course World Championships, where she finished with a silver medal in the 50 breaststroke.
The 22-year-old recently missed three doping tests and was facing a possible suspension from FINA related to athlete accessibility. Because of that, Meilutyte was also not listed on Lithuania’s World Championships roster.
Kim Anh Sander
Ross Mathieson
Qué coincidencia no?
Alejandro Madde Madde
Martin Berbetti Guzmán mucha coinc… huevada!
Alejandro Madde Madde está muy mal regida la natación mundial. Maglione otro chanta coterraneo de Almagro by the way ?
Maris Lencevics
Lida Abrie
Well she was most probably facing a ban or suspension of at least a year for missing out on her drug tests so this comes as no real surprise to me.
Yeah just drug test were taken from 4th time and nothin, so better stfu. All just talking about 3 times when she miss.
Aurimas Jackūnas listen I have nothing against her and did not say that she actually took anything but there are laws to follow and unfortunately she was facing a long suspension even if she has not taken anything .
Brett Davies she quit because she had enough, won everything as a kid
Will miss her.
Elitsa Yordanova Stanislava Nesheva Aleksandra Stoyanova
Andréanne DeBlois
Be happy. We will miss you in the pool so much. Your winn at Olimpics Games was breathing. Thank you for giving so much swimming.