Maggie Mac Neil from London, Ontario, celebrated her gold medal win in the 100m butterfly final at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, on Sunday, October 22, 2023. Mac Neil, an Olympic champion, has since announced her retirement from competitive swimming. (Credit: The Canadian Press/Frank Gunn)
Maggie Mac Neil, the celebrated Canadian swimmer who made history at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, has officially announced her retirement from the sport. The 24-year-old athlete shared the news on her Instagram account, posting a heartfelt message alongside a childhood photo of herself swimming. In her message, Mac Neil reflected on how her passion for swimming led her to places she never imagined, expressing deep gratitude for the experiences, people, and memories she gained throughout her journey.
"The little girl above would never have dreamed this is where her love of swimming would take her," Mac Neil wrote. "I am so grateful for all the memories, people, and places I’ve experienced just through swimming." With her competitive swimming career behind her, she is now looking forward to a new chapter of her life. "I’m excited to discover who I am outside of swimming," she added, hinting at the adventures yet to come.
Mac Neil, originally from London, Ontario, had an illustrious swimming career. She won a gold medal in the women’s 100-metre butterfly at the 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics and also contributed to Canada’s relay teams, earning silver and bronze medals. In addition to her Olympic success, she made a mark at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, where she claimed five gold medals—setting a record for the most by a Canadian athlete at a single Pan Am Games.
Despite her outstanding achievements, Mac Neil faced challenges, including sport-induced asthma, which she was diagnosed with in 2017. This condition, triggered by the heat and chlorine in swimming environments, forced her to transition from longer events to sprints. But she didn’t let it hold her back. She became Canada’s first world champion in the 100-metre butterfly just two years after her diagnosis.
Reflecting on her Olympic journey, Mac Neil shared how surreal it feels to be a two-time Olympian. “Anyone I met along the way never told me I couldn’t achieve my Olympic dream,” she wrote, adding that the experience still feels unreal.
Mac Neil also had a unique quirk that endeared her to many fans—a photo of her squinting at the scoreboard after winning her gold in Tokyo became a viral meme. Due to her nearsightedness, Mac Neil didn’t wear contacts or prescription goggles during races, which allowed her to focus on her performance without distraction. “I like to think it helps because I can’t see where the other swimmers are, so I just focus on my race,” she said.
In addition to her swimming success, Mac Neil recently completed her master’s degree in sports management at Louisiana State University. She was born in China and adopted by her Canadian parents, Dr. Susan McNair and Dr. Edward MacNeil. Her mother initially enrolled her in swimming lessons for safety reasons due to the family’s backyard pool.
As she bids farewell to the competitive pool, Mac Neil leaves behind a remarkable legacy and looks ahead to a bright future beyond the sport.
