Olympic champion Anna Hopkin announces her retirement from competitive swimming

Olympic champion Anna Hopkin has announced her retirement from a swimming career that’s achieved things ‘beyond her wildest dreams’.

The two-time Olympian took gold as part of TeamGB’s Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay quartet at Tokyo 2020, alongside Adam Peaty, James Guy and Kathleen Dawson in what was a world record time.

She followed that up with an outstanding year in 2022, winning three medals for Team England at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and completing the full set of medals at that year’s European Championships in Rome – adding to her four European golds from the previous year.

In a post on Instagram, Hopkin reflected on her glittering career saying: “The time feels right to close the chapter on my swimming journey.

“I’ve taken time to reflect since the Olympics and I feel ready to leave the sport knowing I’ve given everything; physically and mentally and I have achieved things beyond my wildest dreams!

“Olympic Champion, two-time Olympian, British record holder, world, Commonwealth and European medallist… I still can’t believe that’s me.

“I have had the best time, met the most amazing people and travelled the world creating memories for a lifetime!”

A proud journey

Hopkin’s journey began when she was encouraged to join her first swimming club by her mum Helen. She started at Chorley Marlins from the age of eight where she had fond memories of swimming in the micro-leagues. She then spent three years at elite squad Gallica before beginning training with Blackburn Centurions Swimming Club from the age of 13.

She continued at Blackburn where she qualified for her first British Championships under coach Lee Orrell until she joined Bath University to take her career to the international stage.

The ‘pocket rocket’ claimed her debut national title in the 50m freestyle at the 2017 British Championships, before winning her first senior international medal as part of Team England’s 4x100m Freestyle team at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast.

Hopkin moved to America to train in Arkansas in the run up to her first Olympics in Tokyo where she anchored Team GB to victory in a thrilling inaugural mixed relay race.

Post Tokyo, she’s been a part of the strong squad at the Loughborough Performance Centre where she picked up a pair of World Championship relay bronze medals in the lead up to qualifying for her second Olympics in Paris earlier this year.

The national record holder in the 50m and 100m freestyle rounded out her career in the French capital, reaching the semi-finals of the Women’s 100m Freestyle and was part of the seventh-place finishing teams in the Mixed 4x100m Medley and Women’s 4x100m Freestyle relays.

Her achievements were recognised in the 2022 New Year’s Honours list, being awarded an MBE for her services to swimming following her Tokyo success.

Speaking on her retirement, Hopkin added: “I feel lucky to leave the sport with no regrets, proud of my journey and confident in the person I have become!

“It’s been an honour to represent my country at all levels of the sport and experience the highs, lows and emotions of being an athlete. It’s not always been easy, but it’s always been worth it.

“I can’t thank people enough for the part they have played along the way, particularly Neil Harper and Mel Marshall for being incredible coaches and friends. And, of course, my family and friends for following me around the world, picking me up when I’m down and celebrating every single moment with me.

“There is only so far you can go on your own and the support and love I have had around me has been second to none.

“I’m excited to continue my performance lifestyle internship with the UK Sports Institute, as well as finally being able to go skiing again, have a normal social life, try new sports and figure out what’s next in life!”