Rio Olympic gold medalist Mack Horton calls time on swimming career

Date:

Share post:

-PTI

Australian gold medalist Mack Horton, who had an intense rivalry with China’s Sun Yang, announced his retirement Sunday from international swimming.

The 27-year-old won gold in the 400-meter freestyle at the Rio Olympics in 2016, but six months out from the Paris Games, Horton says he no longer has the necessary motivation to continue.

“I dearly wanted to swim in Paris but the hunger wasn’t there,” Horton said in a Swimming Australia statement released on Sunday. “I always want to give my all and I am not someone who just wants to make up the numbers, so this is the right time to step away.

mmer Olympics. | Photo Credit: AP

Australian gold medalist Mack Horton, who had an intense rivalry with China’s Sun Yang, announced his retirement Sunday from international swimming.

The 27-year-old won gold in the 400-meter freestyle at the Rio Olympics in 2016, but six months out from the Paris Games, Horton says he no longer has the necessary motivation to continue.

“I dearly wanted to swim in Paris but the hunger wasn’t there,” Horton said in a Swimming Australia statement released on Sunday. “I always want to give my all and I am not someone who just wants to make up the numbers, so this is the right time to step away.

Voting lines now open for Sportstar ACES Awards 2024

“I am so grateful for my time in swimming and in regard to legacy, I hope my teammates and the sport think that I was able to help them and the sport in some way.” Horton, perhaps, is better known for his advocacy of clean sport and particularly his strong views on rival Sun Yang who he branded a “drug cheat” at the Rio Games.

The Australian then refused to stand on the podium next to Sun at Gwangju, South Korea in 2019 after the Chinese swimmer won his fourth consecutive 400-meter freestyle world championship gold medal. Horton placed second, taking silver in a reversal of their Olympic final in 2016 when the Australian won gold.

Sun was banned from international swimming for four years, three months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2021 for refusing to give a sample and tampering with a doping control.

Horton won a bronze medal as a prelim swimmer in the 4 x 200 meter freestyle at the Tokyo Games, after failing to qualify for the Australian team to defend his 400-meter gold from Rio.

mmer Olympics. | Photo Credit: AP

Australian gold medalist Mack Horton, who had an intense rivalry with China’s Sun Yang, announced his retirement Sunday from international swimming.

The 27-year-old won gold in the 400-meter freestyle at the Rio Olympics in 2016, but six months out from the Paris Games, Horton says he no longer has the necessary motivation to continue.

“I dearly wanted to swim in Paris but the hunger wasn’t there,” Horton said in a Swimming Australia statement released on Sunday. “I always want to give my all and I am not someone who just wants to make up the numbers, so this is the right time to step away.

Voting lines now open for Sportstar ACES Awards 2024

“I am so grateful for my time in swimming and in regard to legacy, I hope my teammates and the sport think that I was able to help them and the sport in some way.” Horton, perhaps, is better known for his advocacy of clean sport and particularly his strong views on rival Sun Yang who he branded a “drug cheat” at the Rio Games.

The Australian then refused to stand on the podium next to Sun at Gwangju, South Korea in 2019 after the Chinese swimmer won his fourth consecutive 400-meter freestyle world championship gold medal. Horton placed second, taking silver in a reversal of their Olympic final in 2016 when the Australian won gold.

Sun was banned from international swimming for four years, three months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2021 for refusing to give a sample and tampering with a doping control.

Horton won a bronze medal as a prelim swimmer in the 4 x 200 meter freestyle at the Tokyo Games, after failing to qualify for the Australian team to defend his 400-meter gold from Rio.

He also won seven world championship medals, four Pan Pac Championship medals, and eight Commonwealth Games medals, including four gold.

Oh hi there 👋
It’s nice to meet you.

Sign up to receive awesome content in your inbox, every month.

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Leave a Reply

Related articles

12 SINGAPORE ATHLETES TO COMPETE AT INAUGURAL WORLD TAEKWONDO VIRTUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AT OCBC ARENA

SINGAPORE, 7 November 2024 – Twelve Singapore athletes will bid for glory on home ground when the inaugural World...

Leon Marchand and Kate Douglass are overall champions of World Aquatics Swimming World Cup; Singapore’s Teong Tzen Wei wins 50m butterfly bronze

Two world records were lowered on the final day of the Singapore event SINGAPORE, 2 NOVEMBER 2024 – Leon Marchand...

Leon Marchand and Regan Smith break world records on second day of World Aquatics Swimming World Cup Singapore 2024

Chad le Clos wins 200m butterfly title to bring Swimming World Cup gold medal tally to 152 SINGAPORE, 1...

World Skates: October Newsletter

Hello once again from the tail-end of October, and welcome to our latest monthly recap of all things...