Ariarne Titmus pens sweet note for "legend" Emma McKeon as Australian swimming great bids farewell to the sport

Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus reacted to her compatriot Emma McKeon's retirement from swimming. McKeon announced her decision to hang up her boots on Monday with the 2024 Paris Olympics being her last professional competition.

McKeon is a celebrated swimmer with an impressive trophy cabinet. She also currently holds the record for the most number of Olympic medals for an Australian swimmer with 14.

McKeon announced her retirement decision on Instagram via a reel and a long emotional paragraph. Titmus reacted to the post and wrote:

"So proud of you Em you're a legend in and out of the pool forever"

Screenshot of Titmus' comment on McKeon's post (Image via: McKeon Instagram)

Emma McKeon received the "Member of the Order of Australia" honor in 2022 for her achievements in swimming.

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Ariarne Titmus and Emma McKeon clinched medals together for Australia at the delayed Tokyo and Paris Olympics

McKeon and Titmus during the Women's 4x200m freestyle event on the sixth day of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (Image via: Getty Images)

Emma McKeon and Ariarne Titmus competed together for the Australian swimming team in two Olympics, 2020 in Tokyo and 2024 in Paris. Having debuted at the 2016 Rio Games, McKeon hung up her boots after competing in three quadrennial Games.

McKeon clinched seven medals at the Tokyo Olympics, including four gold medals in the 50m free, 100m free, 4x100m free, and 4x100m medley. Her compatriot Titmus on the other hand bagged four medals, including two golds in the 200m free and 400m free in her debut Olympics.

McKeon and Titmus were also a part of the quartet that clinched the bronze medal in the Women's 4x200m freestyle event at the delayed Tokyo event. The quartet registered a combined time of 7:41.29 with Titmus and McKeon clocking 1:54.51 and 1:55.31 in their respective splits. This run time was also a then-Oceania record in this event.

At the Paris event, Titmus and McKeon clinched four and three medals each with Titmus clinching two golds in the 400m free and 4x200m free and McKeon winning a gold in the 4x100m free.