Mack Horton Retirement: A Look Back at the Olympic Champion’s Stellar Swimming Journey

In the crowd of Cody Simpson and Kaylee McKeown, Mack Horton could only find his possibilities fading on the horizon. Last year, in the National Swimming trial, the Australian veteran grabbed the 22nd position in the 200m free event. His performance never felt avoirdupois in front of Kai Taylor, who wreaked havoc in the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Center to win the same event. The same arena will hold the Olympic trial this year for the Australian swimmers. But sadly, it will not witness Mack Horton, who had once evaded challengers on the same platform. 

On Sunday, Mack Horton, the Olympic swimming medalist, announced his retirement from the sport. In his best time, the 27-year-old Melbourne native had affixed powerful messages on or off the swimming pool. 

Mack Horton stood for a reason in the Olympic arena 

In the aforementioned trial last year, Mack Horton could achieve third place in the men’s 400m free event, without disturbing his Rio Olympics timing. In Rio, he managed to complete his 400m free at 3:41.55, earning the silver medal. But at that moment, the ultimate voice for sustainability came when Horton wasn’t ready to stand on the podium along with the Gold medalist, Sun Yang, as reported by espn.com. His argument was cogent, as at that moment the Chinese swimmer had already been reeling in the doping complaints. Eventually, after a thorough revision, the Court of Arbitration for Sport handed the Australian swimmer the gold medal. 

But with Yang, his tussle had started in the 2015 World Aquatics Championships. There, in 800m free Mack Horton had received his bronze medal way behind Sun Yang. The long-distance swimming had already grabbed a love note from the 27-year-old swimmer as in junior championships he had already won a bunch of gold medals. But in Sun Yang, Horton had found a competitor who had taken disproportionate ways to blame the sport. Eventually, the 2016 Olympics saw him in the best color. Later in the trial for Tokyo, Horton couldn’t clear the 400m free qualification. But he earned the bronze medal in the 4x200m free relay. 

The glory afterward  

In 2022, Mack Horton claimed two individual medals in the Australian Swimming Championships. Including the 400m free, the Olympic champion had earned bronze in the 200m free event. Ultimately, that had given him qualification for the 2022 World Aquatics Championships, as well as in the Commonwealth Games in the same year. 

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In short course swimming as well, Mack Horton added certain recognition. In 2022, he had his silver medal in the 4x200m free relay. However, in 2023, Horton could claim positions in the top – 10 in certain events. But a top finish was out of reach. Now, with his retirement, the Australian camp is on a losing spree in the 400m free event.

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