Paris Olympics: Aussie swimming great Giaan Rooney reveals the shocking thing she hasn't done since retiring

Olympic legend Giann Rooney has made a surprising admission about her life since giving up competitive swimming.

Rooney, who won gold and set a world record as part of Australia's 4×100m medley team at the Athens 2004 Olympics, told Sydney radio station Nova 96.9 on Wednesday that since retiring she has stayed firmly on dry land. 

She is currently in Paris at the Games as part of Channel's Nine commentary team at the pool.

'I haven't swam a lap since the day I retired 18 years ago,' Rooney told interviewer Kate Ritchie.

'I have no desire whatsoever to jump back in the pool.'

She also reminded Ritchie and fellow hosts Ryan Fitzgerald and Michael Wipfli that Wednesday marked 20 years since her Olympic golden triumph where she teamed up with Petria Thomas, Jodie Henry and Leisel Jones in the relay.

She described the win as 'such a distant memory.'

Rooney said she still felt very much enjoying being poolside during international competition and enjoyed reliving the feelings and memories from her stellar career. 

'I get far more nervous and excited for our athletes that are swimming now,' she said. 

'I feel almost like a proud mum on the sideline watching them all complete. 

'It gives me goosebumps and chills every time I hear the national anthem it takes me right back to those moments.'

'Every time I hear our national anthem the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. I sing loudly, proudly badly because it takes me right back to those moments.' 

Since retiring the 41-year-old Rooney has been kept busy raising two children on a Queensland farm with husband of 12 years Sam Levett. 

Rooney said the atmosphere at the Paris Olympic pool was 'absolutely bonkers' with capacity crowds of 17,000 'raising the root' any time a French athlete appeared.

Asked about whether it was a 'slow pool' because of a lack of world records at the meet so far Rooney said she did not think it was.

'It’s the enormity and pressure of the Olympics so all of a sudden the athletes aren’t swimming for a time here we haven’t seen world records being broken,' she said saying swimmers were just doing what was required to beat those next to them.

She explained that a 'fast pool' is one where the water is shallow and warm as opposed to a 'cold pool', which is deep and cold.

However, she said all major international competition pools had to be a standard depth and temperature for consistency.  

Rooney also confirmed another talking of point of the Paris Games that all the medals awarded in 2024 will contain metal from the recently refurbished Eiffel Tower.