By Retta Race on SwimSwam
Three-time Olympian Shane Ryan of Ireland has decided to hang up his goggles, retiring from competitive swimming at the age of 31.
The backstroke ace took to social media this week to announce his decision, conveying, “After years of representing Ireland and USA on the world stage and dedicating my life to the sport I love, I’ve made the decision to step away from competitive swimming.
“This sport has given me more than I could have ever imagined – the honor of wearing the green, the thrill of competing at 3 Olympic Games, and the lifelong friendships forged through countless hours in the pool and on the road.
“I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve accomplished, not just in medals or records, but in the journey itself.
“From my first strokes to standing on international podiums, it’s been a ride filled with highs, lows, and everything in between.
“I want to tank my coaches, teammates, Swim Ireland, USA Swimming, my family and everyone who supported me through the years. Your believe in me pushed me forward every single day.
“Though I’m stepping away from competition, my love for the sport remains as strong as ever – and I look forward to giving back in new ways, mentoring the next generation and staying involved in the swimming community.
“Thank you for following my journey. I’ll forever be proud to have called myself an Irish Olympian.”
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Shane Ryan OLY (@shaneryanoly)
Ryan competed stateside at Penn State University and represented Team USA on its national squad before transitioning to full Irish sporting citizenship in 2016.
He remains the first Irishman to compete at three Olympic Games – Rio 2016, Tokyo 2021, Paris 2024 – and retires as the first Irish swimmer to earn a Short Course World Championships medal. That feat was accomplished at the 2018 edition in Hangzhou, China when he secured 50m back bronze.
Ryan was also a member of the first-ever male relay to represent Ireland at an Olympic Games in the men’s 4x200m freestyle.
Ryan retires still owning the following individual Irish national swimming records:
LCM 100 free (48.39, 2024) LCM 50 back (24.32, 2018) LCM 100 back (53.73, 2019) SCM 50 free (21.07, 2024) SCM 100 free (46.23, 2024) SCM 50 back (22.56, 2024) SCM 100 back (50.17, 2020) SCM 50 fly (22.80, 2020) SCM 100 fly (50.53, 2020)Swim Ireland Interim Performance Director Andy Reid said ‘Shane has had a very impressive career for over a decade now and has been part of Irish swimming’s success at the very highest levels. I have no doubt that his achievements and records will be part of our history for many years to come. We wish him every success in his next chapter.’
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