Cody Miller Announces Retirement: “The Time Has Come — Sorta, Kinda”
Following a lengthy and successful professional career highlighted by a strong performance at the 2016 Olympics, Cody Miller has announced his retirement. Miller revealed the news in a video on his popular YouTube channel. In that video, he shared his experience at his final swim meet, an age-group competition at the Indiana University Natatorium, before he reflected on his decision and noting that he would not be stepping away from the pool completely.
“I joined my first club swim team when I was 7 years old, which means I have been swimming for about 25 years,” Miller said. “I have been swimming as a professional athlete for 10 years, and now, the time has come — sorta, kinda. I’m still going to do some masters meets and swim a few days a week, but nothing real serious.
“I have goals. I have things I want to accomplish. I have a lot of fun things still in the swim world that I’m excited to share with you soon, but as far as being a pro swimmer, the time’s gotta come for everyone at some point. I’m not going to stop cold-turkey and quit swimming. I’m not quitting swimming, but if someone asks me, ‘What do you do?’ I’m not going to say, ‘I’m a professional swimmer.’”
The highlight of Miller’s career came at the 2016 Olympics, when he won a surprise bronze medal in the men’s 100 breaststroke in American-record time. Miller then swam the breaststroke leg of the gold-medal-winning U.S. men’s medley relay. After Ryan Murphy led off with a world record in the 100 backstroke, Miller providing a solid breaststroke leg before Michael Phelps blasted the American team into the lead on the butterfly leg. The gold medal would be the 23rd and final of Phelps’ career.
Miller has also won a pair of relay gold medals at the long course World Championships plus three relay medals at Short Course Worlds. He took silver in the 100 breast at the 2019 Pan American Games. At his final high-level competition, Miller placed 14th in the 100 breast and 17th in the 200 breast at this year’s U.S. Olympic Trials.
At his final meet, contested at the pool Miller has called his favorite, he raced the 100-yard backstroke and lowered his best time that had lasted since before his college career at Indiana, clocking 49.69. Blake Pieroni, a training partner of Miller’s at Indiana who has qualified for the last three Olympics, also competed at the meet, racing the 100-yard butterfly.
In his announcement, Miller added that his vlog will continue and that he has plans for additional work with USA Swimming.
