Canada’s Erin Gammel Retires

CALGARY, Canada, May 23. SWIMMING Canada announced the retirement of Erin Gammel of Calgary in an announcement released today.

Gammel established herself as one of Canada's best female backstrokers and won a world championship medal has announced her retirement.

"I wanted to retire loving the sport and being happy with I've accomplished. I achieved that. I also wanted to be sure that I would happy being away from the sport", said Gammel, who announced her retirement Wednesday.

Gammel, 27, spent 10 years on the national team and leaves the sport as the fastest Canadian women ever in the 100 backstroke. Her national record of 1:01.93 set at the world championship trials in 2005 still stands today.

She won a bronze medal in the 100 backstroke at the world short course swimming championships in 1999. She was also named the Canadian Interuniversity Sports (CIS) female swimmer of the year for the 2003-04 and the just completed 2006-07 seasons. She reached a lifelong dream by competing at the Olympic Games in 2004.

"It was a tough decision but it's time to start the next phase of my life," said Gammel, who is engaged with the wedding set for September 1. "I wanted to retire loving the sport and being happy with I've accomplished. I achieved that. I also wanted to be sure that I would happy being away from the sport."

Gammel is pursuing her studies at the University of Calgary in Communications and English and will graduate in December before heading into the teacher's program. She also works as a personal trainer at a health club in Calgary.

Special thanks to Swimming Canada for contributing this report.

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