Announcing her retirement, Australian cycling great Anna Meares has revealed she needed six cortisone injections through her spine to compete at the Rio Olympics.
The 33-year-old Meares said on Sunday she had decided to end her stellar career, highlighted by two gold medals from four Olympic campaigns and 11 world championship titles.
"Obviously a lot of people will be wondering where I am going to post-Rio. With some time in reflection I have decided that I am actually going to retire," Meares told the Nine Network.
"The reason I took some time to myself after Rio ... I wanted to remove myself from that environment and get over some of the emotions attached with the Olympic Games."
Meares admitted there had been a temptation to go on and finish her career on home soil at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games but the wear and tear of a punishing sport had taken its toll.
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"Having looked back and seen all the things that I have achieved and assessed some of the injuries that I have had to manage going into Rio," Meares said.
"Most people were unaware just to get to Rio I had six cortisone injections through my spine."
Her decision comes after she won bronze in the keirin at the Rio Games, her sixth Olympic medal making her the most decorated Australian cyclist in Games history.
"Having had to change tack for six months leading into it and to achieve the things I have, I feel satisfied and happy to step aside from the sport and try something new and different," she said.
