Lilly King is one of the most talented breaststroke swimmers in the world.
She is an Olympic gold medalist in the 100m breaststroke and a five-time world champion in individual long-course breaststroke races, as well as having one more Olympic gold and six long-course world championship gold medals for her role on medley relay teams.
During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she earned a silver in the 200m breaststroke, a bronze in the 100m breaststroke and a silver in the 4x100m medley relay. She and South Africa's Tatjana Schoenmaker were the only two swimmers to earn medals in both the 100m and 200m breaststroke events.
King sealed her spot in for third Olympic Games in 2024, and she is in line to race in the 100m breaststroke and the 200m breaststroke. Fellow American Lydia Jacoby is the reigning Olympic gold medalist in the 100m breaststroke, but King is still the world record-holder in the long course edition of the race.
But how old is King, and how many more Olympics can swimming fans expect to see her race? Here's what you need to know.
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How old is Lilly King?
King is 27 years old. She celebrated her birthday on Feb. 10, making her just over a month older than fellow Olympic gold-medalist Katie Ledecky. She will be 27 at the start of the Olympics.
In the events King is likely to race in the Olympics, the 100m breaststroke, 200m breaststroke and 50m breaststroke in the medley relay, King's personal best times were all set earlier in her career. The 50m best time was set in the 2017 FINA World Championships at 29.40, the 100m best time was set also at the 2017 World Championships at 1:04.13 and the 200m best time was set in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics at 2:19.92. In 2017, King was 20 and in 2021, she was 24.
Her 50m and 100m times are both world records.
Jacoby, who will provide King with stiff competition once again, is 20, while Schoenmaker will be 27.
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When will Lilly King retire?
King has not given a definitive date for when she will retire. But there is a timeframe in which swimming fans can expect to see her in the pool for the final time.
King said she will not be participating in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
"I will be watching in Los Angeles, and I’m good with that decision," King said, per IndyStar. "I will not be done after this summer, but I will not be going another four years. I’ll be cheering on the team."
However, King did not give a definitive timeline for when she would officially hang up the swimming cap. But ending a career in the late 20s/early 30s tends to be common for even the best swimmers. Michael Phelps swam in his last Olympics at 31 years old.
Ledecky has expressed optimism about swimming in the 2028 Olympics, but even she did not say definitively whether she would, saying only that the idea of competing in those games are "very appealing."
