Swimming-Australia's 'Terminator' Titmus makes shock retirement call

FILE PHOTO: Paris 2024 Olympics - Swimming - Women's 800m Freestyle Victory Ceremony - Paris La Defense Arena, Nanterre, France - August 03, 2024. Silver medallist Ariarne Titmus of Australia poses as she celebrates with her medal REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne/File Photo

MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Australian four-times Olympic gold medallist Ariarne Titmus has retired from competitive swimming at the age of 25, ending a stellar career that featured one of the sport's great rivalries with American Katie Ledecky.

Titmus confirmed her decision on Thursday, bowing out as one of Australia's most decorated athletes with eight Olympic medals and four world titles.