Meilutyte retires from professional swimming

Lithuania's Olympic champion Ruta Meilutyte announced her decision on Wednesday to end her professional swimmer's career, citing personal reasons and the wish to focus on education.

"I am ready to start a new stage in my life. Thank you everyone who supported me on this path and not only," Meilutyte said in a statement.

"I have given all of myself to swimming so far. This sport has been my whole life since early teens. Due to intense training schedule I postponed my education I want to focus on now. I want to experience simple things, grow, understand myself better and understand the world around me," the swimmer said.

At the age of 15, Meilutyte won a gold medal at the London Olympics. She has won 18 medals, 12 golden and six silver, at world and European championships.