Olympic Relay Gold Medalist Madi Wilson Retires

Madi Wilson (photo: Mike Lewis)
Photo Courtesy: Mike Lewis/ISL

Olympic Relay Gold Medalist Madi Wilson Retires

Madi Wilson, a four-time Olympic medalist as part of Australia’s vaunted relay contingent, announced her retirement on Thursday.

Wilson made the announcement via Instagram.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Madi Wilson OAM (@madiwilson)

Wilson wrote:

17 years ago I made my first junior Australian Swim Team, so it’s hard to put into words how I feel about announcing my official retirement today. Swimming has been the biggest part of my life and my identity for the better part of nearly two decades. It’s been the most incredible yet challenging and rewarding journey and I feel incredibly proud of the woman I’ve become and what I achieved throughout my time representing Australia. I remember the young girl I was, so inspired by the athletes I watched on TV and I hope I have been the same inspiration and role model for those who are coming next. I’m sad but ready to close this part of my life and move on to what life has next. From being a shy young country girl, to leading the Australia Swim Team, I couldn’t have dreamed of anything more. Thank you to everyone who had an impact on my career, you made me the woman I am today.

Wilson, 30, swam at the Rio and Tokyo Olympics. The Queensland native won gold in the 400 free relay at both Games, plus silver in the Rio women’s medley relay and bronze in the Tokyo 800 free relay. The latter was the only one in which she swam in finals, all the other three for her prelims participation.

Wilson did not swim at the Paris Olympics after announcing her pregnancy in early 2024. She gave birth to a son on Aug. 26.

Wilson collected 24 career World Championships, with 17 in long-course competition. Eleven of her Worlds medals were golds. All 24 were for her participation in relays save for a silver medal in the 100 backstroke at the 2015 World Championships in Kazan.

In addition, Wilson won four relay golds and bronze in the 200 free at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. She was the 200 backstroke champion in the 2013 World University Games, a bronze medalist at Junior Pan Pacs in 2010 and a Youth Olympic Games relay gold medalist way back in 2010.

She was part of six relays that set world records, including the existing women’s 200 medley relay short-course mark, from the 2022 World Championships in Melbourne that Wilson anchored.

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