Gold medallist Shayna Jack has announced her retirement from swimming in an emotional social media video.
“On the eve of my third Commonwealth Games, I’ve made a decision I’ve thought long and hard about,” she captioned the video.
“I wanted you all to hear it from me first, going out with my head held high and a smile on my face.”
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In an emotional Instagram video, Jack said as an Olympic and Commonwealth Games medalist and world record holder she had ticked off all the boxes in a long career.
“I’m extremely proud of myself for everything I’ve achieved in my swimming career, and I cannot thank you guys enough for being part of that journey,” she said.
“It’s been a long career but I’m ready to announce my retirement.”
The 27-year-old appeared in the video with her coach Dean Boxall, who she shared many highs and lows with during her career.
Shayna Jack of Australia hugs her coach after finishing second in the Womens 100 Metre Freestyle Final Credit: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
“I think not just as us as a coach-athlete relationship, but … as family, as friends, as people who always can turn each other, no matter what we go through in life,” she said.
“I think that as soon as I thought about making this choice, you were the first one I told because we started our journey together in 2018, and then life blew up for me in 2019, and you were there for me the whole time.”
Boxall asked Jack if she had fully decided to retire and if he could twist her arm to change her mind.
“I want to bear my heart to Australia and to everybody that I’ve represented over the years, and and all the people who have supported me and been part of my journey.
“I wanted to be honest when I decided when and how I was going to do this, I thought Dean Boxall before Commonwealth Games because I want to go out there, head held high, proud of who I am, proud of what I’m representing, and proud of what I’m saying goodbye to.
“(I want to) give the people an opportunity to be proud of me and me feel that.
“I want to feel it. I want to feel like I had an impact.”
Jack said she felt fulfilled and she was really proud of what swimming had made her.
“I’m not just proud of the medals or the world records — that’s never what I swam for. I swam because I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to be someone that people looked up to,” she said.
“I’m extremely proud of myself for everything I’ve achieved in my swimming career, and I cannot thank you guys enough for being part of that journey, whether you were there emotionally, physically, financially.
“I cannot thank every single one of you enough, and you know exactly who I am talking to.
“I cannot wait to finish at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, what an exciting event.
“It is a perfect way for me to be able to give back to my Australian community, do myself proud, and walk away with a smile on my face as dolphin number 785.”
SMETHWICK, ENGLAND – JULY 31: (L-R) Silver medalist, Meg Harris of Team Australia, Gold medalist, Emma McKeon of Team Australia and Bronze medalist, Shayna Jack of Team Australia pose with their medals during the medal ceremony for the Women’s 50m Freestyle Final on day three of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at Sandwell Aquatics Centre on July 31, 2022 on the Smethwick, England. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) Credit: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
Jack’s Instagram post was flooded with comments of support, including fellow athletes.
Three-time Olympic medallist and world champion Elijah Winnington wrote: “What a career! Go out with a bang.”
Jack won gold medals in the women’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay and the women’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
She is also a three-time world record holder.
From 2019 to 2021, Jack served a 24-month competition ban for an anti-doping rule violation linked to unintentional use of Ligandrol.
At the time, she posted on Instagram saying that she “would never intentionally take a banned substance that would disrespect my sport and jeopardise my career”.
In 2025, she participated in the reality TV series I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here.
