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James Magnussen, a two-time world 100 metres freestyle champion and Olympic silver medallist, has retired from competitive swimming.
Key points:
- James Magnussen won silver in the men's 100 metres freestyle at the 2012 London Olympics
- Magnussen also claimed gold in the event at the 2011 and 2013 world championships
- His career was interrupted by recurring shoulder injuries
The 28-year-old Magnussen called time on his career in the pool on Wednesday, with 15 major event medals to his credit.
He won the men's 100m freestyle at the 2011 and 2013 world championships and clamed silver in the same event at the 2012 London Olympics, touching just 0.01 of a second behind American Nathan Adrian.
The Port Macquarie-born Magnussen was also a member of the Australian men's 4x100m freestyle relay team that won gold at the 2011 world titles in Shanghai.
The Commonwealth Games was a happy hunting ground for Magnussen, who won four gold medals, a silver and a bronze in three appearances.
But Magnussen, nicknamed "The Missile", has suffered recurring shoulder issues in recent years, undergoing surgery in 2015, and felt ready to hang up the cap.
"At 28 years of age I feel I could have swum at another Olympic Games," Magnussen said.
"But with the lofty standards I have held myself to over the years and the high expectations I have, I believe now is the right time to step away from the sport.
"I have enjoyed every moment and every experience, good or bad, and it has shaped the man that I am today.
"I have always been proud to stand on the starting blocks representing my family, my friends and my country. There is no greater honour or responsibility."
Magnussen described as an 'incredible swimmer'
Magnussen's most recent coach, Mitch Falvey, said his former charge would go down as an Australian swimming great.
"It's a great time for us to look back on what he has achieved, he's achieved some incredible things," he said.
"He's a dual world champion, dual Olympian, triple Olympic medallist, multiple Commonwealth Games gold medals.
"So [today] is probably more a reflection and celebration of the things he's achieved while he was an incredible swimmer for Australia."
Magnussen did attract controversy during his career, such as when he was fined for his role as part of the "Stilnox six" in the wake of the 2012 Olympics.
He admitted he and some of his teammates had taken Stilnox as part of a bonding session during a pre-Games camp, although they escaped suspension from the Australian Olympic Committee.
Magnussen rebounded from the incident to win his second world championship in the 100m freestyle in Barcelona.
Swimming Australia president John Bertrand congratulated Magnussen on his decorated career.
"He should be very proud of what he has achieved," he said.
"Very few people in the world have reached these heights in competitive sport."
AAP/ABC
Topics: swimming, sport, olympics-summer, sydney-2000, port-macquarie-2444