Danish Swimmer Julie Levisen announced her retirement from competitive swimming this week, leaving a large hole in the Danish relays as the 2015 World Championships and 2016 Olympic Games approach.
Levisen, at just 18, has decided to hang up her goggles in wake of a bronze medal performance at the 2014 short course World Championships where she held a big part in the success of the Danish 4×50 medley relay team. She was also a crucial component to their 4x100m freestyle relay squad, and was just 0.26 seconds off making a semi-final in the 100m freestyle with a 17th place finish.
The bronze in the 4×50 medley relay at in Doha was the second international medal that Levisen had ever earned, as she took home a gold medal at the 2012 short course European Championships. There, she once again aided the Danish squad to a medal in the 4×50 freestyle relay. On that relay she was a 24.73 on the third leg.
Levisen’s last major long-course international competition was at the 2014 European Championships. There, she swam as a member of the 4x100m freestyle relay that ended up getting disqualified in finals.
Individually however, she finished in a tie for 15th in the 50m freestyle, arguably her best long-course international showing in her career.