SYDNEY, Australia: Olympic gold medalist Chelsea Hodges quit swimming on Friday at the age of 22 and just two months before the Paris Games, saying too many surgeries had left her with “the hips of a 60-year-old woman”.
Hodges is Australia’s leading breaststroke swimmer and was expected to compete in the French capital in July and August.
She was a key part of the Australian 4x100m relay team alongside Kaylee McKeown, Emma McKeon and Cate Campbell that won gold in Tokyo.
Hodges said she had “no more breaststroke kicks left” and would not compete at next month’s Australian Olympic swimming trials.
“I had my first hip operation at 15… and another one last year, I actually have the hips of a 60-year-old,” she said.
“I wanted one last chance at the (Paris) Games, but after six cortisone injections I had to make a decision about my future.”
Australian head coach Rohan Taylor said Hodges would remain with Swimming Australia as a “performance support assistant”.
“She lasted so long to make Paris possible and came so close, so it’s with mixed emotions that I congratulate Chelsea on her amazing career,” Taylor said.
“She persevered for so long to make Paris possible and she went so close, so it is with mixed emotions that I congratulate Chelsea on her wonderful career,” the head coach added.
