I should add that in the past 24 was a very normal age for most swimmers to get out, old even, it was only when a small bit of money came into the sport that a few champions decided to go on for just one more Olympic Games, Perkins for example.

Anyway the timing was right. He’ll always be remembered for the great stuff and no decline.

I thought swimming had a high profile in the US and European nations given the attention during the Olympics . His retirement is well reported in the international press if a google search is a good indicator of overall interest.

But nothing on Fark yet.

If we were any good at synchronised swimming I’m sure we’d be proud of that too.

Isn’t strange the Aussies like sports that few other countries give a toss about