The 26-year-old from Adelaide, winner of 23 medals from three Paralympic Games appearances, dropped a strong hint in April 2013 that he would compete at Rio 2016 having returned from a five-month break after winning five golds, two silvers and a bronze at London 2012.

Speaking at the time, Cowdrey said he'd "struggle to walk away" from the sport but he has now had a change of heart and is keen to pursue other avenues.

"Just more and more over the last couple of months especially I've come to the realisation that the majority of the things that I want to achieve are outside the pool, not inside it," Cowdrey told Fairfax Media.

"I don't want to put myself in the position where I'm not giving 100 per cent in the pool and still trying to do it.

"I don't think I'll do myself justice to do that.

"And throughout my whole career I've never imagined not being at a major meet or at a Paralympics but just over the last month I just have not been able to see myself being in Rio."

Cowdrey's five gold medals at London 2012 saw him eclipse the Australian record of 10 held by track sprinter Tim Sullivan, and took his overall tally to 13.

He also has 21 World Championship medals to his name, including 16 golds, and holds five world records and five Paralympic records.

Matt Cowdrey is putting his career in the pool behind him to focus on other goals
©Getty Images





"I have been fortunate to have achieved more than I could ever have dreamed of, and more than I set out to achieve, and more importantly I have enjoyed every minute of my time on the Australian swim team," said Cowdrey.

"What has made the decision so much easier has been the strength I see within Swimming Australia, and the current swimmers' leadership teams across the able-bodied and Paralympic squads.

"I leave Australian Swimming in a strong and promising position, and look forward to supporting from the sidelines through to 2016 and beyond."

Cowdrey's first Paralympic Games at Athens in 2004 saw him claim three gold medals, two silvers and two bronzes, but it was at Beijing 2008 where he really made his mark, winning five golds and three silvers and setting five world records in the process. 

He was chosen to carry the Australian flag during the Beijing 2008 Closing Ceremony on the back of his performance.

"We don't have an up-and-coming superstar who's going to be able to dominate across as many events as he has," Swimming Australia's Paralympic performance manager Adam Pine told The Sydney Morning Herald. 

"We've got some great young swimmers coming through in one or two events but to be able to dominate in butterfly, backstroke, freestyle, breaststroke and IM (individual medley) and be involved in all the relays, that's something really special."

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