With the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games nearly upon us, a past Australian medalist has revealed his retirement from competitive swimming.
Revealed on Instagram today, July 18th, backstroking ace Mitch Larkin has decided to hang up his goggles at the age of 31.
The national record holder stated, “They say all great things must eventually come to an end. As much as I wish this wasn’t true, sadly it is time to call it a day to my swimming career, a chapter that consumed almost 25 years of my life.
“It truly is hard to comprehend all the incredible memories, friendships and stories this sport has provided. Looking back as a kid dreaming of swimming for Australia, I am lucky to say I was able to live out my childhood dream.
“To those of you who I ever raced, shared a lane or was able to call a team mate, coach or staff, THANK YOU for the best 25 years I could have ever dreamt of. To my parents and family THANK YOU for allowing me to dream and being my biggest supporters during the sports most challenging times. To anyone who has ever supported the Dolphins THANK YOU.
“To those of you who dream of representing AUS one day… I envy you. I would give it all to be a young kid again just knowing the wild adventures and friendships that are ahead of you. Walking out to your name being announced wearing the green and gold, single handedly makes every sacrifice worthwhile.
“To those of you in Paris living out their dreams best of luck and absolutely rip in, myself and the rest of this country is behind you. You have already done us proud!
I’m excited to say it’s time to pursue new dreams…”
The height of Larkin’s career took place in the years of 2015 and 2016. In the former, Larkin became double world champion, topping both the men’s 100m and 200m backstroke podiums in Kazan, Russia. The following year he claimed silver in the 200m back in Rio.
While he fell short of individual medals at the 2017 World Championships, he swept the 50m/100m/200m back events at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and bagged bronze in the 100m back at the 2019 World Championships.
The Aussie came up empty at the 2020 Olympic Games which sparked a move from coach Dean Boxall at St. Peters Western. Larkin landed Chandler and had been trying to recapture his previous career-best times since.
At the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Larkin placed 11th in the 50m back (25.53), 6th in the 100m back (54.30) and 4th in the 200m back (1:56.91). He also finished 9th in the 200m IM with a time of 2:01.59 in Birmingham.
He opted out of racing at last year’s Australian World Championship Trials.
At last month’s Olympic Trials, Larkin placed 4th in the 100m back (54.22) and 5th in the 200m back (1:59.04). His lifetime bests remain at the Australian national records of 52.11 and 1:53.17, respectively, with both times notched during the 2015 World Cup circuit.
Larkin is also Australia’s swiftest 200m IMer in history, owning a PB of 1:55.72 from the 2019 World Championship Trials. There in Gwangju, he ultimately placed 7th in the event.
Since Larkin’s peak, Australia has been seeking its next rising backstroke star, not only to rival the world on the individual stage but also to improve the men’s medley relay. In Paris, Bradley Woodward and Se-Bom Lee will be the 200m backstroke contenders while Isaac Cooper will try to carry on the 100m back and medley relay torches.
For maybe a 6 month period in 2015, he truly was the best male backstroker in the world. What went wrong ? Maybe only he can answer that …. some day but he became awfully inconsistent and he sank all too many M4XMED with sub standard lead-offs.
Anyway, best wishes for whatever he pursues in the future.
“he sank all too many M4XMED with sub standard lead-offs”
He is indebted to Kyle Chalmers for saving those relays from nothing to bronze.
Am very much on board with the view that Chalmers has been the best male relay anchor of at least the last 5 years but, other than 2023 Worlds (where Larkin was not on the team), the only M4XMED (with Larkin aboard) that Chalmers was able to rescue was in Rio. 4x100s = another matter
Nothing went ‘wrong’. He was, as you say, the best backstroker in the world. Still has a world record actually.
He was not the same swimmer in 2016 that he was in 2015. He was consistently “circling” his lane rather than down the centre.
From then on, he didn’t swim sub 53 until 2019. Yes, he won silver over 200 in Rio but after that ….. zilch.
The 200IM proved a blind alley.
Clearly something went awry …… but, its history now.
To be fair, his time in Rio was excellent. Just beaten by Murphy. There are other swimmers who had 1-2 excellent seasons and then faded.
Lad knew how to backstroke real good.
Still holds the second fastest textile 200 back in 1:53.17, just behind Lochte’s textile record 1:52.96
His still standing 200 back SCM record of 1:45.63 swim was one of the most perfect backstroke race I’ve seen.
Thank you Mitch!
That 200 WR is still insane!
Not gonna lie thought he retired like 3 years ago
Thanks Mitch!!!
Bye 💙
Real well put “goodbye”!