DECATHLETE Dean Macey announced his retirement from athletics yesterday and admitted: "My heart is there, my mind is there but my body has finally given in."
The Commonwealth champion has been one of Britain's most prominent athletes since he burst on to the scene in 1999 when he won silver at the World Championships in Seville at the age of 21.
His failure to qualify for this summer's Olympics has led
the 30-year-old to call time on a career blighted by injury.
Macey has only competed in six decathlons over the past 10 years and has had to undergo several operations including one to reconstruct his elbow.
"My heart is there, my mind is there but my body has finally given in," he said.
Macey added: "I still feel in my heart and in my head that I can win medals. I'm good enough but I just don't think I can stay healthy enough for long enough to do the training that gets me in a position to compete at the top level."
Macey followed up his success in Seville by claiming bronze at the World Championships in Canada in 2001. The Essex-born athlete's finest hour came in 2006 when he battled through injuries to his hamstring and elbow to win gold at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
He finished fourth in Sydney Olympics in 2000 and fourth again in Athens four years ago.
"I've lived by the motto that I would compete until my limbs drop off," Macey said. "I've retired with that in mind as well."
Macey said he hoped to pursue a career in the media.
The full article contains 279 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
