Elizabeth Pelton Retires From Swimming After Olympic Trials

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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After competing in the prelims of the 200 back at Olympic Trials, Elizabeth Pelton announced her retirement from swimming.

Pelton represented the U.S. in backstroke at the 2009, 2011 and 2013 World Championships and won the NCAA title in the 200-yard back in 2013. She still owns the American record in that event at 1:47.84.

She last swam internationally at the World University Games last year, where she won a silver medal in the 100 back. But right after that, Pelton broke her hand in training and had to pull out of the upcoming U.S. Nationals.

“It was definitely hard because I really wanted to swim well at Nationals,” Pelton said. “But it forced me to take a break for two months. I got to spend a lot of time with my family, which I haven’t in five years.”

But Pelton thinks that, in the long-run, the break was a good thing.

“I got a really fresh perspective for this final year of swimming. As hard as it was it was also really healthy, I think,” she said.

Pelton says that her last few months of swimming have been some of her most enjoyable as she focused on enjoying her final months in the sport.

“That kind of freed any expectation,” she said. “I kind of viewed this meet as a celebration of my career. Being there for my teammates and my USA teammates and the friends I’ve made over the last 17 years.”

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