Florent Manaudou, who owns a French record six Olympic swimming medals, confirmed Thursday that he has retired at age 35, according to French reports.
French media reported that Manaudou, who per World Aquatics’ database last raced at a small domestic meet in October 2024, confirmed his retirement on French TV while commentating the European Championships in Paris.
Manaudou said as far back as 2022 that he planned to make the Paris Olympics his final significant competition.
Manaudou was a French flagbearer for the Paris Olympic Opening Ceremony, then earned bronze medals in the 4x100m medley relay and in the 50m free, his fourth consecutive medal in the latter.
The 6-foot-6, 220-pound sprinter won 50m free gold in 2012 and silver in 2016 and 2021.
Manaudou said he probably would have retired after Tokyo if Paris had not been awarded the 2024 Olympics.
