At 28-years old, Scottish breaststroker Kris Gilchrist has decided to call it a career, and has retired from competitive swimming after failing to make the 2012 London Olympic Team.
Gilchrist, a veteran of the 2008 Olympic Team, has decided to call it quits after finishing third in his specialty the 200 at the British Olympic Trials two weeks ago.
Glichrist has had a decorated swimming career representing both Scotland and the UK. In 2006, he made his big breakout with a bronze medal in the 200 breast at the Commonwealth Games, which he followed up with a gold at the 2008 World Championships in the same event (short course).
He still holds the Scottish and British Records in long course with his 2:09.01 that earned him a top-10 finish at the 2009 World Championships.
He’s not the only swimmer who is considering retirement after not making the British team this year, but there was some hope that he might continue on. That’s because the 2014 Commonwealth Games are being held in his home country (Scotland) in 2014. But he told British Swimimng in a quote that “I know that the time is right for me and I am confident it is the right decision. The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow are just a little bit too far away.”
It’s never quite clear what the appropriate sentiment is in this situation, but past interactions with Gilchrist indicate that he will have no problem being successful in his second career after swimming. Bon voyage.
