Australian Olympic Silver Medalist Jenna Strauch Announces Her Retirement

28-year-old Australian Olympian Jenna Strauch has decided to hang up her goggles, announcing her retirement from competitive swimming.

Per her Instagram post on March 29th, Strauch stated, “Today, I’m announcing my retirement from competitive swimming. It’s a bittersweet moment, one filled with pride, gratitude, and deep reflection. As I look back on this incredible journey, I’m overwhelmed by how much this sport has given me and how far I’ve come.

“I am proud. Proud of my achievements in the pool, the obstacles I’ve faced and the person I have become in doing so.

“Swimming has shaped me, tested me, and gifted me moments beyond my wildest dreams and whilst there are many people to thank, today I want to take a moment to thank swimming.

“Thank you for teaching me that the greatest rewards aren’t just in the wins and medals, but in how we rise after every fall.

“Thank you for showing me that sacrifices are merely choices, if you want something, work damn hard for it!

“Thank you for proving that despite being an individual sport, I never walked alone. Behind every win or loss was an army of support who lifted me up, believed in me, and pushed me beyond my limits.

“Thank you for giving me the greatest gift of all, decades of friendships, moments, and memories that are forever etched in my heart!

“Finally, even when greatness feels out of reach, the pursuit is always worth it, as the journey is the greatest part. Thank you to everyone who has been part of mine!”

Strauch first represented Australia on the senior international stage at the 2018 World Short Course Championships in Hangzhou, China. Her best finish came in the 200 breaststroke, where she placed 11th. She also recorded a 22nd-place finish in the 100 breast.

Her true breakout year came in 2022, when she claimed her first individual medal at the World Championships in Budapest. There, she finished the 200 breast in 2:23.04 to take silver, just behind Team USA’s Lilly King, who touched in 2:22.41 for gold. Strauch’s best time ever came from the semifinals of these Championships, where she produced a time of 2:22.22, which would have been good enough for gold if replicated in the final.

Just weeks after the Budapest World Championships, Strauch competed at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, once again claiming a silver medal. South Africa’s Tatjana Schoenmaker, the reigning Olympic champion at the time, took gold with a time of 2:21.92, while Strauch finished in 2:23.65. Strauch also reached the finals in the 50 and 100 breast events, finishing 5th in the 50 and 6th in the 100.

Strauch also earned the title of World Champion at the 2022 Short Course World Championships on home soil. At the meet in Melbourne, Strauch swam in the prelims of the 4×50 medley relay, and the finals team went on to score gold in a world record time. At the end of the meet, she swam in the finals of the 4×100 medley relay, which ultimately secured silver.

The Australian is a two-time Olympian, having represented the Green and Gold at both the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the recent Paris Games. She just missed the 200 breast final in Tokyo, touching 9th with a time of 2:24.25. She was notably much quicker in the preliminary heats, posting a time of 2:23.30.

In Paris, Strauch finished 10th in the 200 breast (2:24.05) and 22nd in the shorter 100m distance (1:07.27). She also earned her first Olympic medal as part of the women’s 4x100m medley relay, which placed 2nd. At the end of the medal ceremony, she was able to jump into the competition pool with relay teammates Kaylee McKeown, Emma McKeon, and Mollie O’Callaghan.

“I didn’t know it at the time, but that moment was the perfect end to my career,” Strauch told Swimming Australia in a press release.

“It was a moment of pure joy and to be with some of my best friends … after winning a silver medal that I never dreamed of, well that was a perfect sign-off.”

In the same press release, Strauch stressed her appreciation for her family, saying, “In 2012, my family made an incredible sacrifice for me to pursue my swimming dreams. My mum, Jane, and my brothers, Ryan and Tom, left our home in Bendigo to move to Melbourne so I could train with Melbourne Vicentre and attend Korowa Anglican Girls’ School.

“My dad stayed behind to work and travelled on weekends to be with us. Their unwavering support and selflessness gave me the opportunity to chase my goals, and I will always be grateful for the sacrifices they made.”

Strauch will now turn her attention to her wedding, scheduled for August. She also has a post-swimming career lined up, as she’ll be working as a senior health consultant.

“I was fortunate to be part of Scyne Advisory’s Athlete Employment Program during my swimming career, which provided valuable experience and opportunities for professional growth,” Strauch said.

“More recently, I joined FTI’s health consulting practice, where I am continuing to develop my expertise in the sector, working alongside a team of dedicated health professionals across Australia … so you could say I am more than ready for this next step!

“I’m proud of what I’ve achieved in swimming. I genuinely love the sport and I am so proud to be part of one of the most successful periods of swimming in Australia and I am proud of the people we have all become out of the pool as well.

“The medals and successes will be remembered but it’s the friendships, relationships, shared moments, and unwavering support in this sport that will stay with me forever. Swimming has shaped me in ways I never imagined, and I can only hope that my journey has left a meaningful mark on the sport and the people who have been part of it.”