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Sweden swimmer Therese Alshammar retires after record 6 Olympics

Therese Alshammar

Sweden’s Therèse Alshammar, who in Rio became the first woman to swim in six Olympics, will retire after one more domestic meet next week, according to Swedish reports.

Alshammar, 39, cited injury problems, including her back (where she has the word “Diva” tattooed, reportedly to remind her not to be a diva), in preventing her from continuing in the sport, according to Dagnes Nyheter.

She debuted at the 1996 Atlanta Games at age 18, two years after her first world championships.

Alshammar won three Olympic medals, all at the 2000 Sydney Games. She finished second to Dutchwoman Inge de Bruijn in the 50m and 100m freestyles and helped Sweden’s 4x100m free relay to bronze.

Alshammar reportedly became the oldest woman to win a world title at age 33 in 2011 (50m free).

Alshammar carried Sweden’s flag into the Rio Olympic Opening Ceremony and reached the 50m free semifinals, three years after giving birth to son Fred.

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