Sport

Gráinne Murphy retires from international swimming

Former European silver medalist suffered severe lung infection late last year

Gráinne Murphy, pictured here in 2013, has retired from international swimming. Photograph: William Cherry/Inpho/Presseye
Gráinne Murphy, pictured here in 2013, has retired from international swimming. Photograph: William Cherry/Inpho/Presseye
Tue Feb 23 2016 - 18:02

Former European silver medalist Gráinne Murphy has retired from international swimming after admitting her chances of making it to the Olympic Games in Rio this summer were over.

The 22-year-old from Wexford revealed she had suffered a severe lung infection in November of last year at her new training base in France that hastened her decision.

In a statement released through Sport Ireland, Murphy explained how she came to her decision.

“I reached a crossroads in November of 2015. I suffered a severe lung infection that took a long time to recover from. I realised that while I might make an Olympic qualification time for Rio, I did not feel like I would be competitive at the Games. I have always maintained that if I go to a major championship I want to be at the top of my game and in the mix.”

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A 16-year-old Murphy sprang to the attention of the Irish sporting public when she claimed three gold and a bronze medal at the 2009 European Junior Championships in Prague.

Later that summer she competed in her first senior competition at the World Championships in Rome where she missed out on the semi-finals. The following year saw Murphy silver in the 1500m freestyle and bronze in the 800m free at the European Championships in Budapest. Those performances saw her named as The Irish Times/Irish Sports Council Sports Woman of the Year for 2010.

Shoulder surgery hampered Murphy’s progress, but she qualified for the 2012 London Olympics, only to pull out during the Games with glandular fever.

Reacting to Murphy's decision, Sport Ireland chief executive John Treacy said: "Personally and on behalf of Sport Ireland I want to wish Gráinne every best wish in her retirement from sport. She was an exceptional swimmer blessed with great athletic ability, work ethic and ability to perform on the big stage.

“Gráinne won medals at junior and senior level and no doubt she would have won many more except for injury and illness. Today is a day for remembering and celebrating her achievements and acknowledging her contribution to Irish swimming”.