By Retta Race on SwimSwam
Laura Stephens of Nice Britain has introduced her determination to retire from aggressive swimming on the age of 26.
Stephens of Loughborough revealed the replace through social media this week.
“Swimming. It’s time for me to step away from this glorious sport that has taken me on the journey of a lifetime. Thanks to everybody who managed to hold on to this loopy rollercoaster with me, in the beginning, center and finish your help has meant greater than I can put into phrases. Thanks to my household to your endurance and love, and to my mates and teammates to your limitless perception and help 
Infinite due to my sponsor @arenawaterinstinctuk and all of the workers @aquatics_gb the workforce at all times in my nook. My coaches Katie (Harwich SC) Michelle (Colchester SC) Robin @plymouthleander and Dave @loughborough_pc your classes in perseverance, resilience and dedication have formed the particular person I’m right this moment, thanks. And to my 9 12 months previous self who couldn’t swim breaststroke to save lots of her life…
Nicely, we nonetheless can’t xx”
Stephens represented Nice Britain on the 2020 Olympic Video games in Tokyo and the 2024 Olympic Video games in Paris. The latter noticed the previous Plymouth Leander ace make the ultimate in her signature 200m butterfly, putting eighth total.
Previous to that outing, Stephens turned world champion within the 2fly occasion, topping the rostrum on the 2024 World Championshps in Doha.
Extra accolades embody a European Championships gold medal within the ladies’s medley relay from 2020 and a 200m fly silver and medley relay bronze from the 2022 Commonwealth Video games.
She retires as Nice Britain’s 4th-fastest 200m fly performer in historical past, proudly owning a lifetime greatest of two:06.62 from the 2023 Aquatics GB Championships. Stephens will certainly depart a gap within the British arsenal within the ladies’s 200m fly, though Keanna MacInnes has been making strides as of late.
MacInnes, the Scottish nationwide file holder, ripped a lifetime greatest of two:06.93 on the AP Race Worldwide London this previous Could and took the nationwide title at this 12 months’s Aquatics GB Championships. In Singapore, MacInnes positioned sixteenth out of the semi-finals.
Learn the total story on SwimSwam: British Olympic Finalist Laura Stephens Publicizes Retirement
