Canada's Aurélie Rivard has withdrawn from selection for the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships in order to focus on her studies.

The 29-year-old native of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., said she remains passionate about the sport but wants to focus on earning her law degree at Laval University.

"I've always put swimming first," Rivard said Sunday in a statement. "I took sabbatical sessions and built my life around this sport." "But at this point, with just under a year to go in law school and the goal of graduating in April 2026, I didn't want to put off again."

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Rivard has won six gold medals at the Paralympics

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