4 American swimmers who may retire after Paris Olympics 2024 ft. Katie Ledecky, Caeleb Dressel

Modified Jul 11, 2024 13:35 GMT

With less than a fortnight remaining for the 2024 Paris Olympics, all eyes will be on the swimming team from USA, especially the likes of Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel.

Ledecky is one of the most decorated female swimmers in the U.S. Olympic swimming team and Paris 2024 might be her last shot at Olympic glory, although she has not officially confirmed it for now.

On that note, here are four American swimmers who might be appearing for the last time at this year's quadrennial Games.

American swimmers who may retire after Paris 2024 ft. Katie Ledecky

#4 Simone Manuel [Freestyle]

The soon-to-be 28-year-old freestyle swimmer from Sugar Land, Texas has had an impressive record at both the Olympics and the World Championships. Simone Manuel has won two gold, two silver and a bronze medal at the Summer Games.

Will Simone Manuel finish Paris 2024 on a golden high? - Getty Images

She also won a silver medal in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the 2016 Rio Olympics, alongside Katie Ledecky.

Manuel will be competing in the 50m freestyle as well as the 4x100m freestyle in Paris this year. She will be aiming to end her Olympic career on a high with a gold medal in at least one of the two events.

#3 Lilly King [Breaststroke]

While Katie Ledecky may be having second thoughts about her retirement, her teammate Lilly King has confirmed that Paris 2024 will be her final attempt at Olympic glory. The 27-year-old swimmer from Evansville, Indiana has won two gold, two silver and a bronze medal at the Summer Games.

Lilly King competing at the U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials 2024 - Getty Images

King is a breaststroke specialist and has won a silver and a bronze in the 200m and 100m breaststroke, respectively. At the Paris Olympics, she will be aiming to end her career on a golden high as she swims for gold in the 100m and 200m breaststroke events.

#2 Caeleb Dressel [Freestyle, Butterfly, Individual Medley]

One of the most decorated American swimmers after Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky, this is probably the last chance for Caeleb Dressel to prove his mettle at the Olympics. The soon-to-be 28-year-old swimmer from Green Cove Springs, Florida has a near perfect record at the Summer Games, having won all the events he participated in since Rio 2016.

Will Paris Olympics be Caeleb Dressel's final shot at Olympic glory? - Getty Images

At the Tokyo Olympics, Dressel won five gold medals, in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 4x100m freestyle relay and 4x100m medley relay. He is only the fifth Olympic swimmer from the USA to achieve this distinction.

If he goes on to win all his events in Paris this year, Caeleb Dressel will be the second-most decorated American swimmer after Michael Phelps, with at least 10 Olympic golds to his name.

#1 Katie Ledecky [Freestyle]

When Katie Ledecky first competed at the 2012 London Olympics, nobody thought that she would win the gold medal in her debut, let alone become one of the most decorated female swimmers in Olympic history. However, Katie Ledecky had other ideas.

Will Katie Ledecky continue beyond Paris 2024? - Getty Images

Ledecky won the 800m freestyle event in style, becoming one of the youngest Olympic gold medalists from the USA. At Rio, she went a step ahead, winning four gold medals and a silver. Though she couldn't repeat her performance at Tokyo, she still managed to win two gold and two silver medals.

So, will the 2024 Paris Games be Katie Ledecky's last attempt at Olympic glory? The swimmer has refused to confirm it, but she has mentioned that she will swim only as much as her body can allow her. So even if she doesn't retire immediately after Paris, it would be a real miracle if Ledecky turns up at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.