7x Olympic Medalist and 16x World Championship Medalist Dana Vollmer Retires from Competitive Swimming

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After a storied career, 7x Olympic Medalist, 16x World Championship Medalist and American Record Holder Dana Vollmer has announced she will retire from competitive swimming after this summer’s USA Swimming Nationals.

Photo Courtesy: TYR Sport

“Other parts of my life are asking for my time and attention. This week I am leaving elite level swimming. This is not letting go of a dream; it’s having the ambition to start a new one! While it is sad to see this chapter of my life coming to a close, I do it with a full heart,” said Vollmer.

At just twelve years of age, Dana Vollmer began her quest for Olympic success as the youngest swimmer to compete in the 2000 Olympic trials. Today, the butterfly specialist is a 5x Olympic gold medalist, and has broken and set world records at the games in both Athens and London. Dana is the first woman in history to ever swim the 100m butterfly in under 56 seconds, which still stands as the fastest time ever recorded by an American. She made her most recent Olympic appearance in Rio de Janeiro after having her first child, and is affectionately known today as the “Momma on a Mission.” In addition to earning seven Olympic medals, she has also earned sixteen world championship medals over the course of her career.

dana-vollmer-100-fly-prelims-2016-rio-olympics

Dana Vollmer; Photo Courtesy: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports

“Dana has left an incredible legacy on the sport of swimming, and we will always be proud to call her part of the TYR family,” said Matt DiLorenzo, CEO of TYR Sport. “We look forward to supporting Dana in the next phase of her career, and congratulate her on all her remarkable
achievements.”

Fans will have a final chance to see Vollmer race the 100 butterfly at Stanford’s Avery Aquatic Center on Friday, August 2nd at the 2019 U.S. National Championships, where she will also be signing autographs. To read Vollmer’s personal letter on her decision to retire, please visit http://blog.tyr.com .

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