Anna Hopkin, a member of the British quartet that won the first Olympic mixed relay title at the Tokyo 2020 Games, has announced her retirement from competitive swimming.
Sharing the news on her Instagram, the 28-year-old from Chorley, who finished two places adrift of qualifying for the 50m freestyle final at the Paris 2024 Games, and three places adrift of the 100m freestyle final, commented:
“The time feels right to close the chapter on my swimming journey…
“I’ve taken time to reflect since the Olympics and I feel ready to leave the sport knowing I’ve given everything; physically and mentally and I have achieved beyond my wildest dreams! Olympic Champion, 2x Olympian, British record holder, world, commonwealth and European medalist…
“I still can’t believe that’s me. I have had the BEST time, met the most amazing people and travelled the world creating memories for a lifetime!
“I feel lucky to leave the sport with no regrets, proud of my journey and confident in the person I have become!
“It’s been an honour to represent my country at all levels of the sport and experience the highs, lows and emotions of being an athlete. It’s not always been easy but it’s always been worth it.”
Hopkin rose to prominence as one of Britain’s most versatile and accomplished swimmers under the guidance of Mel Marshall at Aquatics GB Performance Centre, Loughborough, earning medals at the world’s biggest meetings.
Her crowning achievement came at the Tokyo Olympic Games that took place in 2021, where she became an Olympic champion as part of the mixed 4x100m medley relay team that also included Kathleen Dawson, Adam Peaty, and James Guy.
Hopkin anchored the British squad to a world-record time of 3:37.58 ahead of China and Australia.
Beyond her Olympic triumph, Anna’s career highlights include multiple medals at the European and World Championships.
At the European Aquatics Championships in Budapest in 2021, she won four gold medals across four relay events – showing her prowess in high-pressure situations.
She picked up a total of eight medals across the Budapest and Rome editions of the competition in 2021 and 2022 respectively, making her one of the most successful athletes at these Championships in recent years.
Hopkin’s consistency and dedication throughout her career also earned her a place at two Commonwealth Games with Team England – picking up four medals along the way. Add those to her podium appearances across the years and she has taken 17 medals over six years at the summit of sprint freestyle.
A holder of numerous British records, Hopkin’s dedication and work ethic have inspired a generation of swimmers.
Her achievements in the pool are matched only by her humility and sportsmanship outside of it – she has indicated a likely future career pathway within sport through her work with Adam Peaty’s AP brand and also as a lifestyle intern at the UK Sports Institute.
As Hopkin steps away from competitive swimming she leaves behind a legacy of excellence, resilience, and inspiration. While the swimming community will miss seeing her on the starting blocks, her impact on the sport will endure for years to come.
