AUSTRALIA'S most decorated track and field athlete, Ballarat's Jared Tallent has been forced into retirement one day out from what would have been his final Olympic selection trials.
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A hamstring injury has forced the race walker to retire as four-time Olympic medalist which includes a gold from the London 2012 games, ending a 13-year career.
The trials are to be held at Melbourne's Fawkner Park on Saturday.
The former Ballarat High School student made history upon his Olympic debut at Beijing 2008 when he completed a rare double by winning medals in both the 20km and 50km walking events.
It was the first time a male Australian in athletics won two medals at a single Olympic Games in more than a century.
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After winning gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, he returned to the Olympic arena at London 2012 and won gold in the 50km Walk to become an Olympic champion and an all-time great.
Tallent originally finished second at the those games, but was awarded the gold medal years later when original winner Sergey Kirdyapkin was found guilty of drug cheating.
"I had planned for Tokyo to be my swansong but I've had a number of setbacks from an injury to my hamstring, with the latest one putting a halt to my final preparations for the Australian 50km Race Walking Championships this weekend," Tallent said in a statement.
"Unfortunately that was the last chance for me to qualify for Tokyo so it is with mixed emotion that I announce my retirement from elite sport."
The Olympic record holder in the 50km Walk said while he leaves athletics earlier than he had anticipated, he looks back on his career with pride.
"I'm incredibly proud of what I've achieved. The medals I've won at the Olympics are by far my highlight as they were beyond my wildest dreams when I started race walking all those years ago," he said.
"To go to an Olympics is an achievement, and then to go on to win three medals in a row in one event is something I'll never forget.
Athletics Australia chief executive Darren Gocher congratulated Tallent on his record-breaking career and his place in Australian track and field history.
"It has been a privilege to watch Jared become one of the greats in our sport," Gocher said.
"Jared is an outstanding ambassador for athletics in Australia and what he has achieved in his career makes him a great role model for all athletes.
"Since making his international debut at the Beijing 2008 Games, Jared has been a leader of our team. He has shown commitment and determination to one of our most gruelling disciplines and his performances and success have no doubt been a contributing factor to the increasing profile of our sport at the elite level.
"While we are saddened to lose him from our team, I want to thank and congratulate Jared on a wonderful career."
More to come.
