Emma McKeon pens an emotional note as she announces retirement from competitive swimming after the Paris Olympics

Australian swimming sensation Emma McKeon took a major decision after the Paris Olympics. She posted an emotional note on her Instagram account to explain the reasons behind arriving at the decision.

McKeon has decided to retire from competitive swimming. The 30-year-old Australian swimmer shared a collage of her important achievements in a reel as she wrote on Instagram,

"Today I am officially retiring from competitive swimming. I am proud of myself for giving my swimming career absolutely everything, both physically and mentally. I wanted to see what I was capable of - and I did."

McKeon revealed that she was pondering upon this decision before the Paris Olympics. In her words,

"Leading into Paris, I knew it would be my last Olympics, and the months since have given me time to reflect on my journey, and think about what I wanted my future to look like in swimming."

Emma McKeon is one of the most decorated non-American Olympic swimmers of all time. She won a gold, a silver, and a bronze each in the relay events at the Paris Olympics, taking her total to 14, only behind the American swimming legend Katie Ledecky in terms of Olympic gold medals. Ledecky won nine gold medals, while McKeon won six Olympic gold medals.

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Emma McKeon on the impact of swimming on her life

Emma McKeon on the impact of swimming on her life [Image for Representational Purposes] [Image Source : Getty]

Emma McKeon also talked about the impact of swimming on her life in the long Instagram post she uploaded recently. McKeon wrote,

"Swimming has given me so much. From the dream igniting at 5 years old, right through to my third Olympic games- I have so many lessons, experiences, friendships and memories that I am so thankful for."

McKeon also thanked everyone who supported her throughout her career. She further added,

"Along with every person who supported me, worked hard with me, and cheered me on. THANKYOU. Now I am excited to see how I can push myself in other ways, and for all the things that life has in store."

Emma McKeon made her Olympic debut on the junior level with the inaugural edition of the Youth Olympics held in 2010 in Singapore. The Australian swimmer won a total of six medals, including one gold, two silvers, and three bronze medals.

The Australian swimmer made her senior Olympic debut at the Rio Olympics in 2016. McKeon won a gold medal in the women's 4x100m freestyle relay event, before adding two silver and a bronze medals.

McKeon's most successful outing was at the Olympics, where she won a whopping seven Olympic medals, the most for any female swimmer at a single Olympic Games. The Australian swimmer further added three medals to her collection, becoming the most decorated Australian swimmer of all time, superseding even Ian Thorpe in terms of the medals won.