---
title: "Florent Manaudou announces retirement from swimming in Paris; retirement after four Olympics"
sdDatePublished: "2026-08-14T16:12:00Z"
source: "https://www.olympics.com/en/news/florent-manaudou-olympic-gold-medallist-announces-retirement-from-swimming"
topics:
  - name: "swimming"
    identifier: "medtop:20001071"
  - name: "Olympic Games"
    identifier: "medtop:20001177"
  - name: "sport"
    identifier: "medtop:15000000"
locations:
  - "Île-de-France"
  - "France"
---


Florent Manaudou announces retirement from swimming in Paris; retirement after four Olympics

Florent Manaudou, Olympic gold medallist, announces retirement from swimming

Florent Manaudou, Olympic gold medallist, announces retirement from swimming

The Frenchman broke onto the scene in 2012 and will bow out in front of a home crowd in Paris.

Florent Manaudou has announced his retirement from competitive swimming following a career spanning four Olympic Games and six Olympic medals.

His first title came at London 2012 as a fresh-faced 21-year-old who shocked the world when he stormed to 50m freestyle gold.

Four years later , he won silver in the same event while also getting on the podium as part of France’s 4x100m freestyle relay.

After a brief stint competing in handball, he returned to the pool for the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games where, once again, he earned silver in his favoured 50m freestyle race.

The 35-year-old rounded out his Olympic career with an appearance at Paris 2024 , winning a 50m free bronze and a 4x100m medley bronze in front of a home crowd.

Over the course of his career, he won eight gold medals at the World Championships, four in long course and four in short course, and 11 European Championship titles, six in long course and five at short-course events.

“Two years on from the Paris Olympics, that’s it,” he said . “I’m announcing my retirement. It will take place on Saturday [15 August].”

He will officially bow out during a ceremony at the ongoing European Championships in Paris.

European Aquatics Championships 2026: Swimming schedule, results and medallists – full list