Japan swimming legend and four-time Olympian Irie Ryosuke retires
It’s the end of an era.
Japan’s four-time Olympic swimmer Irie Ryosuke announced his retirement at 34 on Wednesday (3 April), drawing the drapes on a career marked by three medals at the London 2012 Games and an unprecedented eight consecutive trips to the World Aquatics Championships.
“I’m grateful from the bottom of my heart to have had such a long career,” a teary Irie said during a press conference in Tokyo. “I would’ve liked to retire in Paris but I swam my last race in Japan, in Tokyo, in front of a lot of people. I couldn’t be happier.
“There will be no more swimming for me. Part of me is happy and part of me is sad about that.”
Boasting one of the most elegant, efficient backstrokes in the world that allowed him the longevity he had, the six-time Asian champion made his national team debut when the specialist was 16 at the 2006 Pan Pacific Championships, qualifying for every Olympic Games since Beijing 2008.
That run came to an end two weeks ago at the Japanese trials, where Irie - who captained his country in the pool at Tokyo 2020 - was eyeing to make the team for a record fifth Games but missed out on both the 100m and 200m.
At London 2012, Irie won a pair of silver medals in the 200m and the 4x100m medley relay along with a bronze in the 100m. He leaves having won 10 successive national championships in the 100m and 200m back for which he holds the Japan record in both (52.24; 1:52.51).
“I swam for Japan from my second year in high school until last year for 18 years,” said Irie, who now hopes to move into a media role. “I spent more than half my life with the national team. It’s my home, it’s my family. It’s where I grew up.
“I have nothing more to give. Maybe I gave too much.”
