France's Manaudou, Olympic 50m freestyle champion, retires at 35

French swimmer Florent Manaudou, who captured gold in the 50m freestyle at the 2012 London Olympics, is hanging up his goggles. The 35-year-old announced his retirement on Thursday, stating, "Two years later, I'm announcing the end," referring to his absence from competition since the 2024 Paris Games.

Manaudou's illustrious career includes a remarkable six Olympic medals. Beyond his iconic 2012 gold, he secured three silver and two bronze medals across four Olympic appearances. His achievements extend to multiple World Championship titles, solidifying his status as one of France's greatest swimmers.

He follows in the footsteps of his older sister, Laure Manaudou, who also achieved Olympic glory, winning the 2004 Olympic gold medal. Florent's final competitive outing was at the European Aquatics Championships held in Paris, where he earned a bronze medal in his signature 50m freestyle event, providing a fitting, albeit bittersweet, conclusion to his distinguished career.

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Two years later, I'm announcing the end