SYDNEY, Australia — Former Olympian Matt Welsh retired from swimming today after finishing third in the 100-meter backstroke at the Australian championships.

Welsh won a silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in the 100 backstroke and a bronze in the 200 backstroke.

The Australian won gold in the 50-meter butterfly at the 2003 world championships at Barcelona, Spain, and the 100 backstroke at the 2001 worlds in Fukuoka, Japan.

"It has to happen one day, I am 31 and not just 18 and coming on the game," Welsh said. "It has not really hit me hard yet, but it is also a long time coming."