Olympic Silver Medallist Mehdy Metella Retires At 34
Mehdy Metella has retired at the age of 34 after winning Olympic silver and clinching world and European titles.
The Frenchman shared the news on social media, 10 years after he led off the French quartet that won 4x100m freestyle silver at Rio 2016 behind the USA.
He was also sixth in the historic 100 fly won by Joseph Schooling of Singapore as Michael Phelps, Laszlo Cseh and Chad le Clos finished in a three-way tie for silver.
The two-time Olympian – the younger brother of Olympic and world medallist Malia Metella – led off the winning 4×100 free squad at the 2015 World Championships, one of four global long-course medals of which three were relays with a solo bronze at Budapest 2017 in the 100 free behind Caeleb Dressel and Nathan Adrian.
Metella also won two European relay titles among seven medals on top of world and continental short-course titles.
He said: “I started competing at the age of six, never knowing where this journey would take me. Now, at 34, it is time for me to say goodbye to competitive swimming.
“Twenty-eight years of pools, training sessions, early mornings, competitions, victories, defeats, doubts, and pushing my limits… but above all, twenty-eight years of memories and connections that have shaped my life. 🏊♀️💙
“Swimming saw me grow up. It taught me never to give up, to pick myself up after setbacks, and to always strive to go a little further.
“There were times when I wanted to quit it all, but I always found my way back to the pool – a place that was a second home to me for so many years.
“Today, I leave with a mix of emotions, but above all, with immense gratitude.
“Thank you to my family, coaches, teammates, competitors, friends, and everyone who shared in this incredible journey with me, whether closely or from afar. ❤️
“I don’t know what comes next yet, but I know one thing: the six-year-old boy diving into the pool for the first time will always remain a part of me.
“One last race. One last lap. And above all… thank you for everything. 🏊♀️✨On to the next chapter. ❤️”
