In 2019, Australian swimmer Minna Atherton had a standout performance during the inaugural season of the International Swimming League (ISL), where she broke the world record in the SCM 100 backstroke with a time of 54.89. She also came within .02 of the all-time best in the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:59.25. Throughout her career, Atherton has won three medals at both the long course and short course World Championships.
However, despite her successes, Atherton faced challenges in qualifying for the upcoming Games in Paris, France during the 2024 Australian Olympic Trials. In this week’s competition held in Brisbane, she placed 8th in the 100m backstroke event with a time of 1:01.22 and 6th in the 200m backstroke event with a time of 2:11.05. Her personal best times in these events are 58.60 and 2:06.82, respectively, achieved in 2019.
After reflecting on her accomplishments over the past thirteen years, Atherton announced her retirement on Instagram following her failure to qualify for Paris Games. She expressed gratitude for swimming providing numerous opportunities such as traveling around the world, studying at Bond University on a scholarship, completing her bachelor’s degree and meeting lifelong friends along the way.
As she embarks on her next chapter of life beyond swimming pools, Atherton is excited for new adventures that await her while prioritizing her happiness and enjoyment of life.
In summary, Minna Atherton’s decision to retire from swimming after failing to qualify for Paris Games was rooted in prioritizing her happiness and enjoyment of life outside of sports. Despite facing challenges throughout her career
