Mehdy Metella retires from swimming after 28-year career

Mehdy Metella, French Olympic silver medalist and former national record holder, officially announced his retirement at age 34, ending a 28-year swimming career. The announcement was made via Instagram in early July 2026, two months after his participation in the French National Championships in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, where he placed 10th in the 100m freestyle with a time of 49.71 seconds. Metella started swimming at age 6 and rose to international prominence between 2026-2026, winning gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the 2026 World Championships, silver in the same event at the Rio 2026 Olympics, and individual bronze in the 100m freestyle at the 2026 World Championships. He also held French records in the 100m butterfly (long and short course) until they were broken by Maxime Grousset in 2026. Metella's career is marked by longevity, consistency, and significant contributions to French relay teams. His retirement leaves a gap in French sprint freestyle depth, but the rise of younger talents like Grousset ensures continuity. Metella expressed gratitude to his family, coaches, teammates, and competitors in his farewell message.