Olympic champ Kromowidjojo retires from the pool

Three-time Olympic gold medallist Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands said yesterday she has retired from competitive swimming aged 31. “Swimming will always be my passion, but not on a professional level anymore,” she posted on her Instagram site. “There is more than top sport... it is part of a larger whole.”At the London Games in 2012 Kromowidjojo won the freestyle gold in 50m and 100m to add to a 4x100m relay gold from Beijing in 2008. The Tokyo Games were her final major event and she took bronze in the 50m freestyle. The sprinter, who has part Javanese/Surinamese heritage, also won 17 world titles during a 16-year career.Kromowidjojo counted out a role as a swimming coach but did hint she might turn to life coaching.“I’ll be trying to help people, to inspire them in their personal development. But I don’t see myself giving instructions from poolside,” she said.