Two-time Olympian Melanie Nocher has announced her retirement from swimming at the age of 24.
Nocher competed at the Olympics in Beijing 2008 and London 2012 and won a bronze medal at the European Short Course Championships.
She was also Irish National champion six times before she turned 19.
Nocher said: "I will always be involved with swimming at some level but I am now ready to move on to other challenges.
"I would like to say a huge thank-you to everyone who has helped me along the way. I can promise I will remember everyone who has helped me.
"I am walking away from swimming a better all round person and have enjoyed every minute of it and made many many friends along the way."
— melanie nocher (@MelanieNocher) December 19, 2012
hey guys so i have offically announced my retirement from competitve swimming it has been an amazing journey one which i will never forget
it is now time to move onto the new chapter in my life. I can walk away happy being a double olympian and bronze european medallist #movinon
— melanie nocher (@MelanieNocher) December 19, 2012
