• Canoeing

Tim Brabants announces his retirement

ESPN staff
April 15, 2013
Tim Brabants contemplated retirement after London 2012 © Getty Images
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Former Olympic gold medallist Tim Brabants has announced he is set to retire from canoeing.

The 36-year-old took part in four Olympic games and was Britain's most successful canoeist, claiming the gold medal at Beijing 2008. He also won a bronze medal in Beijing and in Sydney 13 years ago.

Brabants won gold at the 2007 World Championships, and landed another four silver medals throughout his career at the event.

"This has been an incredibly difficult decision to make, but reluctantly I realise I have reached the point where I need to retire from the sport," Brabants said.

"It has become more obvious to me over the last few months that as much as I love the sport and would love to be Olympic and world champion again, I've reached the point where I'm unlikely to improve or achieve the same results that I once achieved.

"It is a difficult decision and it is not based on this weekend, because I have done well enough to be selected to race internationally from my results.

"But it wouldn't be right to just keep competing for the sake of competing and, when you're not getting your best results, it wouldn't be fair on my family or on the other athletes in the sport that are trying to come through."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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