AFP, Sydney :
Olympic gold medallist Chelsea Hodges retired from swimming Friday aged 22 and just two months before the Paris Games, saying too many surgeries had left her with “the hips of a 60-year-old”.
Hodges is Australia’s premier breaststroke swimmer and was expected to be in contention in the French capital in July-August.
She was a key part of the Australian 4x100m medley relay team alongside Emma McKeon, Kaylee McKeown and Cate Campbell that won gold in Tokyo.
Hodges said she had “no more breaststroke kicks left” and would not be competing at Australia’s Olympic swimming trials next month.
“I had my first hip operation at 15… and another one last year, I actually have the hips of a 60-year-old,” she said.
“I wanted one last chance at the (Paris) Games but after six cortisone injections, I had to make a decision on my future.”
Australian head coach Rohan Taylor said Hodges would remain with Swimming Australia as an “assistant to performance support”.
“She persevered for so long to make Paris possible and she went so close, so it is with mixed emotions that I congratulate Chelsea on her wonderful career,” he added.