Robert Glinta burst onto the scene in Singapore at the World Junior Swimming Championships 2015 where his 54.30 in the 100m backstroke set a Championship Record. Glinta would go on to make two Olympic finals in the event, the first coming at the Rio 2016 Games where he finished eighth.

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Five years later at the Tokyo Games, Glinta was nominated by Romania to be the Open Ceremonies flagbearer before going on to again finish eighth in the 100m backstroke at the Olympics.

Glinta also made the finals four times at the FINA World Championships, finishing 7th in the 50m backstroke and 8th in the 100m backstroke at Gwangju 2019, and then finishing 5th in the 50m backstroke and 8th in the 100m backstroke at Budapest 2022.

Glinta also made his way onto the podium several times in 2021, a year where he won both the European Championships in the 100m backstroke and picked up the bronze in the event at the 15th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) Abu Dhabi.

We last saw Glinta compete last December in Melbourne at the World Swimming Championships where he finished 28th in the 100m backstroke.

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“Through highs and lows this sport has taught me so much and truly made me grow into the more evolved human being I am today,” Glinta wrote in his retirement post on Instagram.

“Whether it is pain or glory, failure or success, suffering or bliss, the amount of responsibility, discipline, dedication, ambition through hard work to achieve a goal and overcome adversity and obstacles, grew deep roots within myself that will forever stay with me.

“None of it would have been possible without the people I worked with along the way. Each of them plays a huge role and leaves an important mark on my career and my life. For them, I cannot express my gratitude enough.”

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A number of Glinta’s swimming contemporaries remarked on his post, including the Netherlands' Ranomi Kromowidjojo:

“Our captain 🔥 congrats on your swimming career. This is just the beginning (might not feel that way atm)😊 I’m looking forward to see and hear what your next chapter(s) will be in the future. You are amazing!”

And Sweden's Louise Hansson: "Congrats on a great career! Will miss you on poolside 💙"