Bronte Campbell retiring: Australian swimming great calls time on career, opens up on new business venture with Earthletica

Australian swimmer Bronte Campbell has retired from professional competition to focus on her role as CEO of Earthletica, a women’s activewear brand. The three-time Olympic gold medalist is now dedicated to eradicating virgin plastics from the activewear industry using recycled and organic fabrics.

Campbell, 32, revealed her decision in an interview with nine.com.au. She noted that the prospect of dedicating herself to her business venture felt more meaningful and exciting than continuing her swimming career.

Why did Bronte Campbell decide to retire now?

The decision wasn’t immediate. Campbell stated she took a long time to reach the conclusion, even mapping out a two-year lead-in to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games with her coach before ultimately choosing to step away.

She describes her transition as a shift toward “forward living.” While she is grateful for the relationships and memories formed in the pool, she believes the best chapters of her life are still ahead.

Did You Know? Bronte Campbell’s favorite career moment wasn’t a gold medal, but finishing second in the 50m freestyle at the 2012 Australian Olympic trials in Adelaide to secure her spot for the London Games.

What are Bronte Campbell’s career achievements?

Campbell’s professional record includes three Olympic gold medals as part of the Australian women’s 4x100m freestyle relay teams in 2016, 2021, and 2024. In Rio and Tokyo, she shared those relay victories with her older sister, Cate.

Her individual success peaked at the 2015 world championships in Russia. There, she triumphed in both the 50m and 100m freestyle events.

How is Earthletica attempting to change the activewear industry?

As co-founder and CEO, Campbell is targeting the 2.2 million tonnes of waste produced by the activewear industry. Earthletica uses organic fabrics and recycled materials, including fishing nets recovered from the ocean.

1. An update on Bronte’s retirement status & the one question you should NEVER ask a retired athlete

The brand’s mission is to protect both the environment and women’s bodies. Campbell, who swims daily at Bondi Beach, wants to ensure the ocean remains clear and beautiful for the future.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter suggests that Campbell is applying the same psychological framework to entrepreneurship as she did to elite athletics. By framing the “unrealistic” goal of changing an entire industry against the 0.0017 per cent chance she had of making the Olympics, she is leveraging her history of overcoming low probabilities to drive business growth.

What may happen next for the former champion?

Campbell is likely to treat her business growth with the same intensity she used in the pool. She has indicated that she finds the challenge of changing the activewear landscape exciting, despite others viewing it as unrealistic.

A possible next step could involve further scaling Earthletica’s use of recycled ocean plastics. Her success may depend on whether she can successfully eradicate virgin plastics without compromising garment performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Olympic relay teams did Bronte Campbell win gold with?
She won gold as part of the Australian women’s 4x100m freestyle relay teams in 2016, 2021, and 2024.

What is the primary environmental goal of Earthletica?
The brand aims to completely change the activewear industry by eradicating virgin plastics from their products using recycled or organic fabrics.

Did Bronte Campbell consider competing in the 2028 Olympics?
Yes, she had mapped out a two-year lead-in to the Los Angeles 2028 Games with her coach before deciding to retire.

Do you think elite athletes are well-positioned to lead sustainable business ventures?