Australian swimmer Shayna Jack has announced she will retire after the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
A two-time Olympic gold medallist as part of Australia’s 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relays at Paris 2024, Jack has called time on a career of highs and lows.
Jack served a two-year ban after testing positive to a banned substance, Ligandrol, in 2019, which deprived her of the chance to compete at the Tokyo Olympics. She has always maintained her innocence, but the saga had a major impact on her life.
Jack returned to the pool for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, winning a relay gold and an individual silver in the women’s 100m freestyle.
She picked up medals at the 2023 world championships in Fukuoka before representing Australia at a maiden Olympics in Paris two years ago.
An emotional Jack revealed the news to her coach Dean Boxall in a video that she posted to Instagram on Tuesday from Australia’s training camp in Germany ahead of the upcoming Commonwealth Games, which begin next week in Scotland.
“It’s been an absolute privilege being an Australian athlete, an Australian swimmer, Australian Olympic medallist, Commonwealth Games medallist, world medallist, world record holder,” Jack said. “I think I definitely ticked off all the boxes. It’s been a long career but I am ready to announce my retirement.
“I wanted to share this moment with you. It was a rollercoaster of Shayna and Dean.
“We started our journey together in 2018, and then life blew up for me in 2019, and you were there for me the whole time.”
Boxall, who had to deal with the retirement of one of his other swimmers, Ariarne Titmus, last year, asked Jack if she was certain about her decision.
“100 per cent,” Jack said.
“I can’t twist your arm?” Boxall said.
“No,” Jack replied. “I wanted to bare my heart to Australia and everyone I have represented.”
“I feel fulfilled. I am really proud of what swimming made me. I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to be someone that people looked up to.”
Jack has spoken about looking forward to having her younger brother Jamie on the Australian team with her in Glasgow.
Tom Decent is the chief sports writer for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.From our partners
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