Anton Chupkov Confirms Impending Retirement: “The Next Goal Is To Enjoy Life” | SwimSwam

By James Sutherland on SwimSwam

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Two-time world champion and 2016 Olympic medalist Anton Chupkov says he plans on retiring from competitive swimming in the near future.

Chupkov finished outside of the medals in the men’s 200 breaststroke final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on Thursday morning, the event in which he is the world record holder and reigning two-time world champion, telling reporters after the race of his desire to move on from the sport.

“Games in Paris? No, the next goal is to enjoy life,” said the 24-year-old Chupkov, according to Russian news agency TASS (translated from Russian).

“To continue living, but without it (swimming). This is one of my last starts at a high international professional level.”

Chupkov has intimated as much in the past, saying he would have retired after the Games last summer had they not been postponed in November.

Chupkov set the world record in the 200 breast at the 2019 World Championships in a time of 2:06.12, winning his second consecutive world title, showing an incredible level of dominance in the event since claiming bronze at the 2016 Games in Rio.

But in Tokyo, the Russian was well off his best in a time of 2:07.24, placing fourth as Australian Zac Stubblety-Cook won gold in an Olympic Record time of 2:06.38.

Chupkov also told reporters that he will not race at the 2022 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

“I want to develop further,” he said. “And I don’t want to live at the training camp again after so many years. I want to switch over and live differently.”

In addition to his two World Championship titles and 2016 Olympic bronze, Chupkov also owns a pair of bronzes from the LC Worlds in the men’s 400 medley relay, and is also the reigning two-time European champion in the 200 breast.

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