Sydney Olympics 400-meter individual medley silver-medalist Yasuko Tajima will retire, swimming officials said Tuesday. Tajima has reportedly quit the Nippon Sport Science University swimming club and requested to be taken off the registered list in late June, the officials said.
The 20-year-old swimmer posted a Japanese record of 4 minutes, 35.96 seconds in the individual medley in Sydney to win the silver medal at last fall's Olympics. She was also selected as a member of the Japanese national team for the upcoming World Championships in Fukuoka later this month, as questions surfaced about her commitment to the sport and training. Tajima will remain at the university and reportedly plans to involve herself in media work.