Canadian Olympic swimming champion Maggie Mac Neil has decided to retire from the sport. The 24-year-old athlete, who hails from London, Ontario, made the announcement on social media with a heartfelt message reflecting on her swimming journey. Mac Neil, who won a gold medal in the women’s 100-meter butterfly event at the Tokyo Summer Games in 2021, expressed gratitude for the experiences, memories, and people she encountered through swimming.

In her retirement post, Mac Neil shared a childhood photo of herself swimming, expressing how far her love for the sport has taken her. She mentioned feeling excited about the next chapter of her life outside of competitive swimming and the journey of self-discovery that lies ahead. The accomplished swimmer earned a complete set of medals in Tokyo, including gold, silver, and bronze, as part of relay teams.

Mac Neil’s achievements also extend to the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, where she clinched five gold medals, setting a Canadian record for the most golds by an athlete at a single Pan Am Games. Despite facing challenges such as a diagnosis of sport-induced asthma in 2017, Mac Neil persevered and excelled in the sport. She transitioned from longer distances to sprints, becoming a world champion in the women’s 100-meter butterfly in 2019.

Aside from her sporting accomplishments, Mac Neil recently completed her master’s degree in sport management at Louisiana State University. Her Olympic journey, marked by dedication and resilience, has left a lasting impact on Canadian swimming. As she bids farewell to competitive swimming, Maggie Mac Neil’s legacy as a two-time Olympian and role model for aspiring athletes remains an inspiration for the sporting community.