Aussie pool queen Cate Campbell drops retirement bombshell after missing out on the Paris Olympics – but some swim fans are HAPPY to see her go

Australian pool queen Cate Campbell has officially announced her immediate retirement from elite swimming.

This comes after Campbell, 32, recently failed at the national qualifiers in Brisbane, bidding to compete in the Olympics for a record fifth time.

“From little things big dreams grow,” Campbell posted on Instagram.

‘After more than 20 years, more than 35,000 km, more than 19,000,000 strokes, four Olympic Games, eight Olympic medals, seven world records and countless memories, it is time to officially say goodbye to the dream I cherished since I was 9 years old. was old.

‘As of today, I have officially retired from top-level sport.

‘I’ve had some time to reflect on my career over the past week, and although there are a lot of conflicting emotions, especially because it didn’t end exactly as I had hoped, I can still look back without regret.

“I gave everything I had in pursuit of a fifth Olympic Games, and so even if it fails, there is a small, indelible core of pride.”

Campbell further acknowledged the high level of support she received throughout her distinguished career.

It comes after Campbell (pictured, right in yellow swim cap) was recently unsuccessful at the national trials in Brisbane in her bid to compete in a record fifth Olympic Games

Campbell (pictured center) has won eight Olympic medals dating back to her debut Games in Beijing in 2008

“One of the biggest myths is that swimming is an individual sport,” she added.

‘While I stood alone behind the starting blocks under the bright lights, there was a small army of people who took me to that place.

“So I want to thank my extended team over the years.

‘My family, my friends, my partner, my competitors, my teammates at the Australian Dolphins, my management team, my physiotherapists, my coaches, Swimming Australia, the Queensland Academy of Sport, the Australian Olympic Committee, the New South Wales Institute of Sport , my sponsors, the swimming officials and referees, the basketball kids, the event teams and every swimming fan who has supported me over the years.”

Campbell enjoyed a highly successful career wearing her glasses, taking her first Olympic bronze medals in her debut competitions in Beijing in 2008 as a 16-year-old.

Over the next three Games she regularly graced the podium, collecting four gold medals and a silver medal.

Australian swimmer Libby Trickett was among those to pay tribute to Campbell in response to her retirement news.

But not all reactions to Campbell’s Instagram update were positive, with many American swimming fans being highly critical of the freestyle sprinter.

It comes after the veteran became embroiled in a war of words with retired American superstar swimmer Michael Phelps – and Campbell also previously branded Australia’s biggest pool rivals ‘sore losers’ after the Dolphins won more medals at last year’s world championships.

“At least you don’t have to hear the star-spangled flag [in Paris],” wrote one “fan.”

Another wrote: ‘What does karma taste like?