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Australian swimming great Cate Campbell has confirmed her retirement on social media more than a week on from her tearful finale at the Australian Olympic Trials.
Campbell had attempted to qualify for her fifth Games team, but failed to make the final of the 100 metres freestyle, leaving her with one final chance in the one-lap 50 metre freestyle event.
She came seventh, before being surrounded by her rivals for hugs and messages of support.
That night she acknowledged that "this was it", but on Wednesday Campbell at last used the "r" word in her social media post.
"After over 20 years, over 35,000km, over 19,000,000 strokes, 4 Olympics, 8 Olympic medals, 7 World Records and countless memories it's time to officially say goodbye to the dream I have had since I was 9 years old," she wrote.
"As of today, I am officially retired from elite sport."
"I have had some time over the past week to reflect on my career, and while there are many conflicting emotions, especially because it did not end exactly how I had hoped, I am still able to look back without regret."
Campbell said that because she gave her campaign to make the Olympic team everything she had, "even in failure, there is a small, indelible kernel of pride".
ABC Sport will be live blogging every day of the Paris Olympics from July 27 (Australian time).
She used her announcement to give thanks to her "extended team" over the years.
"One of the biggest myths is that swimming is an individual sport. While it was only me under the bright lights behind the starting blocks, there was a small army of people who got me to that place.
"My family, my friends, my partner, my competitors, my Australian Dolphins teammates, my management team, my physios, my coaches, Swimming Australia, the Queensland Academy of Sport, the Australian Olympic Committee, the New South Wales Institute of Sport, my sponsors, the swimming officials and referees, the basket kids, the events teams and every single swimming fan who has supported me over the years.
"It's been a long and wild ride and I wouldn't change it for the world.
"I can't wait to cheer on the Australian Dolphins and the rest of the Australian Olympic Team in Paris. I am entering my cheerleading era."
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