Danish standout swimmer Pernille Blume called time on her competitive swimming career this past week. The Danish powerhouse’s finest achievement was winning the 50m freestyle at the Rio 2016 Olympics. The 28-year-old also anchored Danish the 4 × 100m medley relay at these same Games, bringing the team home to the bronze medal.
Blume's gold medal was the first Olympic gold won by Denmark in swimming since Karen Harup at the London 1948 Games. Blume’s Olympic teammates then named her Denmark's flag bearer at the Rio 2016 closing ceremony.
Her final appearance on the podium at the international level came at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics where she took bronze in the 50m freestyle.
Blume went to Instagram to share her news, saying:
“It has been a long journey coming to my decision and it has been somewhat an emotional ride. Although it is hard and difficult to say goodbye to something I love so much, then it is also equally exciting and thrilling to think about a new chapter is about to unfold in my life. I don’t know yet how this new chapter will look like, but I’m taking the plunge and believing life’s got me and I will find my way to something meaningful and exciting just like swimming has been to me."
Last year, Blume's fiance - fellow Rio 2016 Olympic champ Florent Manaudou of France - announced their engagement on Instagram:
Blume leaves the competitive pool deck with three Olympic medals, five European medals, a bronze in the 100m freestyle at the 17th FINA World Championships in Budapest, and five medals – including three golds – from the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m).