French swimming champ Lefert to retire

NICE, France (AFP) –

French Olympic swimming champion Clement Lefert, seen here in July 2012, is to retire from the sport to concentrate on his studies.

French Olympic swimming champion Clement Lefert is to retire from the sport to concentrate on his studies, the 24-year-old told Nice Matin daily in an interview published on Friday.

Lefert, who won the 4×100m freestyle relay to see off a US quartet which included Michael Phelps and added a silver medal in the 4×200 meters freestyle relay, wants to concentrate on finance studies.

“I really want to land a job which I like and not something chosen by default after my (swimming) career,” said Lefert, who turns 25 on September 26.

He dubbed his Olympic achievements “the culmination of a sporting career” and it was time to move on, his medals meaning he can go out “on a high.”