Alice Dearing, Britain’s first Black female Olympic swimmer, announced her retirement a day before her 27th birthday. At Tokyo 2020, she finished 19th but did not qualify for Paris 2024. Dearing has been a trailblazer in her sport, co-founding the Black Swimming Association and winning the Changemaker Award. She made the decision to retire after being unable to finish a 10km race in Portugal in December. Dearing expressed pride in her journey from a scared child to a confident woman representing her country in swimming.
Dearing reflected on her career, stating that she was proud of the history she made for Black people in Britain by proving that swimming is for everyone. She credited swimming with helping her achieve her childhood dream of competing at the Olympics, despite initially believing she lacked talent. After Tokyo, Dearing aimed to improve for Paris but ultimately felt that her time in the sport was over. She took four months to reflect on her decision and enjoy life as a non-elite athlete. Dearing expressed her desire to empower others to discover swimming in their own way and has started exploring opportunities in esports.
A former world junior gold medallist in the 10km event in the Netherlands in 2016, Dearing thanked her support network for their role in her journey. She acknowledged the village of people who contributed to her success and stated that she would do it all again in a heartbeat. Despite retiring from competitive swimming, Dearing emphasized that her journey is not over and hinted at future endeavors. As the streaming home of the Olympic Games, discovery+ is the exclusive platform to watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer, where Dearing will not be competing.
Dearing’s retirement marks the end of a successful career that saw her break barriers as a Black female swimmer in Britain. Her dedication to promoting diversity in swimming and inspiring others to pursue their passion for the sport has left a lasting impact on the swimming community. While she may not be competing in Paris 2024, Dearing’s influence as a role model and advocate for inclusion will continue to shape the future of swimming in the UK and beyond. As she transitions into the next chapter of her life, Dearing’s legacy as a pioneering athlete and trailblazer will be remembered by those she has inspired along the way.
