Following her 17 year career in the pool, Olympic champion Madi Wilson has announced her retirement from professional swimming.

The Dolphins team leader has been a mainstay of Australia’s successful relay events for more than a decade and has collected an impressive haul of four Olympic medals, five Commonwealth Games medals, including four gold, and 17 World Championships medals.

Describing herself as someone who was 'a shy country girl', Wilson made the leap to relocate to Adelaide in 2018 where she joined the Marion Swimming Club and thrived training with the South Australian Sports Institute (SASI).

In her retirement statement, Wilson explained the immense impact swimming has had on her life and she expressed gratitude for those who supported her along the way.

"Swimming has been the biggest part of my life and my identity for the better part of nearly two decades," Wilson said.

"It’s been the most incredible yet challenging and rewarding journey and I feel incredibly proud of the woman I’ve become and what I achieved throughout my time representing Australia.

"I remember the young girl I was, so inspired by the athletes I watched on TV and I hope I have been the same inspiration and role model for those who are coming next.

"I’m sad but ready to close this part of my life and move on to what life has next."

Wilson's decision to retire comes after recently becoming a Mum to baby Austin and with the support of her fiancé, Australian cricketer Matt Short.

Beyond her athletic achievements, Wilson has been a role model for many aspiring swimmers, known for her discipline, determination, and positive attitude.

Congratulations Madi - wishing you all the best for the next chapter!

Career Snapshot:

• Wilson collected 24 career World Championships, with 17 in long-course competition. Eleven of her Worlds medals were golds. All 24 were for her participation in relays save for a silver medal in the 100 backstroke at the 2015 World Championships in Kazan.
• Wilson won four relay golds and bronze in the 200 free at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Wilson also won individual bronze in the 200m free.
• Wilson was the 200 backstroke champion in the 2013 World University Games, a bronze medallist at Junior Pan Pacs in 2010 and a Youth Olympic Games relay gold medallist way back in 2010.
• She was part of six relays that set world records, including the existing women’s 200 medley relay short-course mark, from the 2022 World Championships in Melbourne that Wilson anchored.
• 2016 Rio Olympics: Heat swimmer in the women’s 4x100m freestyle and women’s 4x100m medley to help the team to gold and silver respectively.
• World Short Course (25m): In 2014 at Qatar World Short Course, Wilson won silver in the women’s 4x100m medley and 4x200m frees relay. At 2022 Melbourne Short Course, Wilson was part of three relay world records (4x100m and 4x200m free; 4x50m medley relay). She also won silver as part of the women’s 4x50m free and mixed 4x50m free relay.
• Swimming World Cups: In total, Wilson won 45 World Cup medals, including 11 gold, 17 silver and 17 bronze