Top Japanese artistic swimmer Yukiko Inui has decided to call time on her competitive artistic career, with her retirement press conference scheduled for this Friday, 27 October, in Tokyo.
The 32-year-old retires with a list of career accomplishments, including four individual titles - and 12 total medals - at the World Aquatics Championships, along with recording 38 wins and 61 podium finishes on the World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup/World Series circuit.
Trained by renowned coach Masayo Imura for many years, Inui competed at three consecutive Olympics starting from the London 2012 Games. Inui had her greatest Games-time success in Rio 2016 where she earned bronze in both duet and team events.
“I started artistic swimming in the first grade of elementary school, and from the sixth grade, I have been coached at a club run by Masayo Imura, who has nurtured many famous athletes,” the Omihachiman native said.
Inui became a soloist after that, winning the solo technical and free events at the World Aquatics Championships - Budapest 2022.
🥇🥇Doubble World Champion in Fukuoka 🇯🇵 Yukiko INUI has announced her retirement after 14 years on the international stage from her first appearance in 2009 at the World Championships #ArtisticSwimming pic.twitter.com/zq1NYB0INA
— World Aquatics (@WorldAquatics) October 24, 2023
With the Japanese city of Fukuoka hosting the next edition of the Worlds in 2023, Inui was one of the most recognisable athletes of the championships. Much to the home crowd's delight, Inui defended both the artistic swimming titles in her home pool.