She’s enjoyed an impressive career, but for Aifric Keogh it’s now time to put the oars down and step away from her beloved sport rowing.
The Galway woman took bronze at Tokyo 2020, and left her stamp on Paris 2024, but that would be her last time representing Ireland at an Olympic Games.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, Aifric announced her retirement before going on to share an emotional statement about her career to date.
Bidding farewell to rowing, Aifric penned: ‘If you told the 12-year-old girl who took up rowing at the Jes that she’d still be rowing 20 years later she definitely would not have believed you. It’s been an incredible journey with a lifetime worth of amazing memories.’
‘I truly feel honoured to have been a part of Rowing Ireland and Team Ireland at a point in history where we’ve had such great success.’
As any sportsperson knows, it’s as much about what goes on behind the scenes as what goes down at an event and Aifric wasn’t quick to forget that!
The 32-year-old, who will go on to pursue a career at JP Morgan, wrote: ‘Thank you to those who have supported me along the way. Whether that was coaches, physios, nutritionists, S&C, physiologists, doctors, psychologists…it took a lot to keep me in the boat over the last few years and I’m forever grateful to those who played a part.’
Turning her attention towards her teammates Fiona Murtagh, Emily Hegarty and Eimear Lambe, Aifric gushed: ‘I’ve had the BEST teammates in the world. Blood, sweat and many tears have been shared over the last few years.’
‘We’ve supported eachother through the lowest lows and celebrated the highest highs. I feel very lucky to have trained alongside some of the greatest athletes this country has ever seen. I can’t wait to be on the sideline cheering them on going forward.’
‘To my family and friends. I couldn’t have done it without your support. Win, lose or draw you were always there,’ Aifric continued, before concluding: ‘It’s been hard to step away but the time feels right. Slán go fóill.’
Congratulations on a stellar career, Aifric!
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