Rio 2016 GOLD medalist in the women’s High Jump Ruth Beitia, has announced her retirement from active competition, citing persistent injuries as the reason for calling time on her career.
The Spanish jumper, who was accompanied by her coach Ramon Torralbo, made the announcement on Wednesday at a news conference, while donating her GOLD medal from Rio to a sports museum in her home city of Santander.
She said: “I’ve spent many years putting my body to 100 percent on many occasions and putting it to the limit on others. The situation we find ourselves in today is to tell you that we are calling time on our sporting life.
“I will take everything that sport has taught me, everything I have learned from Ramon with me into other aspects of my life. Sport will always remain with me”.
Beitia, who is the only Spanish female athlete to have won an Olympic GOLD medal for her country, had an illustrious career that spanned over two decades. Her last competition was the 2017 World Championships in London where she finished at the bottom of the field in 12th position (1.88m), having struggled with injury all through the season.
However, she won the IAAF international Fair play award for her spirit of sportsmanship after consoling a visibly emotional Alessia Trost who was unable to qualify for the final of the women’s High Jump in London.
The 38 year old has three European Championships GOLD medals (Helsinki 2012, Zurich 2014 and Amsterdam 2016), six European Indoors medals, four World Indoors medals, Bronze at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, before striking GOLD at her fourth and final outing at the Olympic Games (Rio 2016).
Beitia will most likely focus solely on her political career which she had combined with sports, having been a member of the regional parliament of Cantabria with the ruling PP party since 2011.
