2024 Brazilian Olympian Nick Albiero has announced his retirement from competitive swimming.
The 26-year-old confirmed the news in an Instagram post, writing:
Thank you swimming ❤️🫂
It is with overwhelming gratitude and a full heart that after 22 years, I announce my retirement from competitive swimming.
If you know my family, you know that swimming is more than a sport to us – it’s a shared love and foundation of memories. From growing up on the pool deck watching my parents coach to training and competing alongside my siblings, swimming has been woven into every part of my life. Thank you mom and dad for encouraging and supporting me through every stage of my swimming career. Thank you Stef and Gabi for always having my back through every high and low. Being able to share this journey with family has been the greatest blessing.
So many coaches and staff have touched my career – thank you Audubon Country Club, Cardinal Aquatics, University of Louisville, and Minas Tênis Clube. Without you all, my dreams would’ve never been possible. If you supported me or cheered for me in any way throughout my career, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
While I’m proud of what I accomplished in the water, I’m even more grateful for the people I met and the lessons I learned – some that only swimming can teach. The journey was full of unforgettable experiences, tough setbacks, and deep personal growth… I wouldn’t trade a second of it. Not many get to say they represented their country on international stages, and I was able to represent not only one country but two. Wearing the United States flag on my cap as a Junior then competing on the U.S. National Team for 3 years was a dream come true. And wearing the brazil flag, something I took so much pride in since I was young, last year on the olympic and world stages was the biggest honor. It was a privilege to compete for both countries, both sides of my family, that make up who I am at my core. I never took those moments for granted. 🇧🇷🇺🇸
As I step away from competition, I do so with peace and pride in my heart. swimming will always be a part of me and I’m sure I’ll be back feeling out the water sooner than I think.
Obrigado natação, você me levou a lugares que eu nunca pensei que poderia chegar.
On to new challenges in life. 🪐
Albiero holds dual citizenship for the United States and Brazil, but was born in the U.S. His family is of Brazilian descent and his father, Louisville head coach Arthur Albiero, was born in Brazil.
He made his international debut at the 2017 World Junior Championships, where he finished sixth in both the 100 backstroke and 200 butterfly, eighth in the 50 back, and tenth in the 100 fly while representing the Red, White, and Blue.
From 2017 to 2022, Albiero swam collegiately for the University of Louisville and continued to train there as a professional. He was the 2021 NCAA Champion in the 200 fly and 200 medley relay, and his best time of 1:37.92 in the 200-yard fly still ranks him as the third-fastest performer in history.
In the summer of 2021, Albiero clocked a lifetime best of 1:55.85 in the 200 fly to place fourth at the U.S. Olympic Trials, earning a spot on the U.S. National Team for the 2021–22 season.
He swam his final meet as a Team USA member at the 2023 U.S. National Championships, placing 11th in the 200 fly (1:55.96), 15th in the 100 fly (52.71), 12th in the 200 back (1:58.39), and 16th in the 100 back (54.75).
In July 2023, Albiero announced he would switch to representing Brazil and train with MTC Natação in Belo Horizonte. The move paid off: at the Brazilian Olympic Trials the following May, he upset 33-year-old Leonardo de Deus to win the 200 fly in a personal best of 1:55.53.
At the Paris Games, Albiero finished 18th in the 200 fly (1:56.49) and split 52.27 on Brazil’s 400 medley relay, which placed 16th.
His last international meet came at the 2024 World Short Course Championships in Budapest, where he touched seventh in the 200 fly (1:50.97) after recording a personal best of 1:50.83 in prelims. He also hit the wall 16th in the 200 back (1:52.11) and 24th in the 100 fly (50.63).
ELE É UM CRÉDITO TOTAL PARA AMBOS OS PAÍSES, MAS ESPERO QUE DECIDE TREINAR NOS EUA.
I had the pleasure of having Nick kick my a** several times throughout my career. Incredible athlete and person. Best of luck in retirement!!! The water’s nice over here!
Congrats!! Enjoy “retirement”!
I could be wrong, but I don’t think the Titmus announcement got bounced back to the top of the feed but I think this just did, lol
Well, obviously Nick Albiero is a more accomplished swimmer than Ariarne Titmus
/s
Lol ya I mean no shade to Albiero, but I sorta like paying attention to what gets bumped, it’s intriguing to me. (Other than generally highly newsworthy things, it’s usually Mel podcasts and high-profile ads.)
It didn’t get bumped, we’re just 2 days late in reporting it.
Who’s teetmus?
And a Merry Teetmus to you!
Pretty remarkable that a high profile swim coach was able to foster his son in a way that turned into long term success and what appears to be a love for the sport. I watched the pressure of a swim coach/parent crack kids rather than form a diamond. Congrats Nicholas and Arthur on a memorable career.
I like that he threw in a line in Portuguese. It’s good to pretend to be a wee bit Brazilian, even though you lived and trained in America for 99.9% of your swimming career.
Both of his parents are Brazilian. Pretty sure that makes you Brazilian, in a lot of respects no?
I believe your issue isn’t with Nick but rather your understanding of how citizenship works pal. Google is available is you need more insight
I don’t know his mom’s heritage or citizenship status, but I think she’s a native of the U.S.
Is Amy Brazilian? I didn’t think so?
He started swimming at 1month of age?
Super exciting swimmer to watch, and glad he got to achieve his goal of swimming in the Olympics. Congrats on the incredible career!
Classy statement, good luck in your next adventures.