Three-time British Olympian and multi-time international medallist Caitlin McClatchey announced her retirement from competitive swimming Wednesday.
McClatchey told British Swimming, “After an incredible 10-year career, competing at three Olympic Games and wining multiple World, Commonwealth and European medals I have decided to retire from competitive swimming.”
Now, McClatchey’s focus will be on her studies as she continues to pursue a Masters degree in performance psychology at Edinburgh University.
McClatchey, 29, made her first international squad with Great Britain in 2004 heading to the Athens Game as a member of the 4x200m freestyle relay that finished fifth. A year later she thrust out onto the international scene in an individual event, finishing third in the 400m freestyle at the 2005 World Championships in Montreal.
It seemed as though that was just the start of her freestyle talents, as she returned for the 2005-2006 season with her sites set on gold. At the 2006 Commonwealth Games, representing Scotland, that’s exactly what she got.
Claiming two victories in Melbourne, McClatchey won the 400 and 200m freestyles, setting a new Commonwealth Games record in the 200 free. Later, at the 2006 European Championships, she took home a bronze medal in the 400m freestyle.
In 2007 McClatchey made the final in the 200m freestyle at the World Championships, finishing seventh overall. At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, she saw a similar result, finishing sixth in the Olympic final.
Overall, 2008 did prove to be a strong year for McClatchey, as she took her talents to the short course World Championships where she finished third in the 200m freestyle and took home two relay medals. Less than a year later at the 2009 long course world championships, she grabbed a bronze medal as a member of the British 4x200m freestyle relay squad.
In her last Olympic appearance, McClatchey finished seventh in the 200m freestyle final.
The 2013 Universiade Games gave way to her last international medals. There, McClatchey took home bronze medals in both the 200m freestyle and 400m freestyle.
British Swimming head coach Bill Furniss made a statement congratulating McClatchey on a successful career, ““I would like to congratulate Caitlin on her long and successful swimming career. It’s a career she should be proud after winning 10 international medals for Britain as well as representing her nation at three Olympic Games.”
