Three-time Paralympic gold medallist Rebecca Meyers has announced her retirement from competitive swimming at the age of 27.
Meyers - a deaf blind athlete who suffers from Usher syndrome and retinitis pigmentosa - took a silver and bronze medal at the 2012 Paralympics before shooting to fame at Rio four years later.
The American took gold medals in the 100m butterfly S13, 200m medley SM13 and 400m freestyle S13 at the 2016 Games and posted a sentimental message on social media to mark her retirement.
"A letter to my 6 year old self: Dear 6 year old Becca, Don't worry. Your disabilities won't hold you back from achieving your dreams. Swimming will bring you happiness in ways you can't even begin to imagine," Meyers said on Instagram.
"You will start by winning first place at this summer's 'mini meet' and amazingly go on to securing a 6th place finish @ 2016 NCAA DIII Championships. Not only that, you will win multiple gold medals and break numerous world records.
"As you turn the page to the next chapter of your life, be sure to cherish your memories of laughter, tears, hard work, happiness, adventures and lessons that the sport of swimming has given you."
Meyers's fourth medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics was a silver in the 100 m freestyle S13, and the Baltimore-born swimmer was named ESPN's Best Female Athlete with a Disability in 2015 and 2017.
Meyers was also due to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics but withdrew after COVID-19 restrictions on staff numbers meant she could not bring a personal care assistant to the Games.
Ben Knapton
