Jones retires from swimming

Brisbane - Breaststroker Leisel Jones has retired after a 13-year career in which she became the first Australian swimmer to compete at a fourth Olympics in London this year.

The 27-year-old Jones, who announced her retirement on Friday, won her ninth Olympic medal in London - a medley relay silver - equaling a record held by Ian Thorpe for most Olympic medals won by an Australian.

Jones finished fifth in the 100m breaststroke in London, an event she won at Beijing in 2008 for her only individual career Olympic gold. She also won Australian medley relay golds in 2004 and 2008.

She won her first Olympic medal - a 100m breaststroke silver - at the age of 15 at Sydney in 2000.