Australia's Olympic 400m athletics champion Cathy Freeman has retired from the sport.
Has she made the right decision?
Australia's head athletics coach Keith Connor revealed Freeman had decided not to run the 4x400m relay at next month's World Championships in Paris and to quit immediately.
Freeman took a long break after the pressure of competing at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
But she returned in 2002 battling injury, weight and personal problems to win relay gold in the 400m at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
However, having spoken with Freeman about her intentions, Connor said she no longer had the desire to compete at the top level.
This debate has now closed. A selection of the best comments are published below.
To be a great athlete takes more than pure ability. They have to be mentally strong also. If she is struggling to cope with the psychology of being the best then she is right to step away. Top spot is up for grabs.
Tim Tancos, Castleford
 |  If the desire has gone, then continuing is fruitless |
Yes! It is her life and she can do as she desires. A top athlete of her time and now she wants to move on to other challenges in her life. Good luck for the future Cathy, whatever you decide to do!
James Johnstone, Lithgow, Australia
I will never forget that 400m women's final at the Sydney Olympic games where in a body suit Cathy ran a sizzling final for her people and country. She was running with an emotional charge that would be hard to capture again.
If she has said all she needs, then let her move on with no regrets. There is something admirable about a person who knows when to move on at the top of their game. Part of me will still miss that beautiful slightly bow legged powerful stride and I'm glad I have it on tape.
Andrew Thuita, USA
Man, so many people compete for so long and don't achieve half of what she did! Long live Cathy, I hope she has just as much success outside her athletics career.
Greg, Scotland
Cathy is right to retire. We have to appreciate what she has done and not expect more track exertions from her.
Alan Agarrat, London
If the desire has gone, then continuing is fruitless. It will only lead to her hating the sport she still loves. I back her decision.
Sam, Reading
I don't think that Cathy is ready to retire because she still young enough to compete for another possible 3-4 years. If she just thought back and listened to all those fans in a packed stadium cheering her name she would feel a whole lot better and maybe think is this the right choice?.
Cathy I will miss you
Goodbye.
Marcus Actie-ward, Great Britain
Of course it is right for her to retire if that is her decision, it's her life and we have no business whatsoever putting in our four pence worth. Congratulations to her on some great achievements and look forward to a further distinguished career in her new pursuits whatever they may be!
VECH, New Zealand
Well done Cathy. You have been an inspiration to aspiring athletes around the world. Your international career spanned over a decade, winning your first Commonwealth Gold as a member of the Aussie 4x100m sprint relay team, running a devastating 2nd bend. A fact not too many people know.
As for I.Brewer's comments (tripe), Cathy has been competing at the top level since she was 16. Not unlike your own Katherine Merry. The 400m is one of the most demanding events, and as you may have noticed, Katherine has been injured for the last two years too. I wish Katherine well for the future. She has many challenges ahead. I Brewer, will you be forecasting that Katherine hang up her spikes too?
Phil Spivey, Aussie in the UK
What a shame, she did have a lot of pressure heaped on her small shoulders, but I think in years to come she will regret not attempting to defend her title. I must admit, the criticism she got from flying the two flags was very unfair, would not blame her bewilderment at her treatment by the so called Australian faithful.
Alan Uzomah, London
She is a fantastic athlete, such a lovely person and an inspiration. She's achieved the dream so let's commend her for it not judge here as being unable to 'cut it'. I could never do. Good on her for being so great.
Jo, London
It is Cathy's choice whether she wants to retire or not and if she thinks it is for the best and it is what she wants, then that's fine. We do not have a say in it because it is her life. She has been successful many times and should be proud of it. We have to stop sometime because we are not robots and we now when it is time to stop and if Cathy thinks that then we should support her.
Nicola, Bury St. Edmunds UK
Cathy Freeman was a very good athlete and deserves recognition for being the best on the day in 2000 Olympics. However, to class her as 'one of the greatest ever' and 'a legend' is nothing short of an insult to athletes who really deserve these titles.
Phil, Solihull
The manner of her retirement speaks volumes about her -she has acknowledged she no longer has the fire and so has faced up to it in the right manner. I will never forget her winning gold in 2000 and she deserved every accolade she received. Cathy Freeman WAS a great athlete but IS a great woman and ambassador.
Michael Shoard, Stockport, England
I was at the Olympic stadium on that unforgettable night. There was a world record crowd of 112,524 in attendance. An atmosphere of palpable tension had developed by the time Cathy's race was announced. When she appeared in her super space-age suit, looking for all the world like the Phantom, a mighty roar enveloped the arena.
It had dwindled to nothing - to an eerie silence by the time the runners were on their blocks. As in the Simon and Garfunkel song of yesteryear this profound silence had its own kind of sound. Then the gun cracked. The massive crowd let rip with its pent-up emotion rising to a crescendo of stupendous magnitude as Our Cathy first caught, then flew past, the leaders in the home straight.
After she crossed the line she sank to her knees utterly overcome by the very effort and achievement of it all. The crowd was on its feet jumping, clapping, roaring, crying, shouting, waving, celebrating. It went on, thunderously, for minutes. Beaming that wonderful, generous smile of hers and waving to us all, Cathy then did a long, lingering lap of honour to rapturous receptions from all sections of the assembled multitude.
In all my experience of sport and life I have never been part of anything remotely like this explosion of mingled joyousness and relief.
For this was a transcendent moment. It was more than a mere race. It was more, much more, than an Olympic gold medal. Cathy embodied hope for the aboriginal peoples of this country. She carried with her their aspirations. She was under enormous pressure and the weight of expectation might have crushed a lesser mortal.
But she handled everything with an impeccable dignity and a refreshing vivacity. Here was the honesty and artlessness of the ing�nue. Thanks for the memories Cathy.
Dr Ron Sinclair, Bathurst, NSW, Australia
It is a brave and right decision by Cathy. She is in the history books as one of the greatest ever female athletes. I saw her many times around the Manchester Commonwealth Games and clearly has it in her to become an ambassador for female, Aboriginal and Australian sport. Who knows after a year or so she may think about making the Melbourne Games in 2006 her comeback event. Good luck in the next part of your life Cathy.
Megan, Canada
| Well its her choice! But I can't help thinking she may regret it later in life |
Cathy made a big impact both on and off the field. She is already a legend. She deserves a long rest from the limelight now. I'm sure the personal pressure she has endured has hastened her decision. Her country is proud of her.
Noel, Adelaide S.A.
I thought she had quit three years ago? Now the only question is will CF do us all a favour and stop whingeing and moaning about how tough is was to live up to Australian expectations. Ian Thorpe has proved himself to be a much tougher individual, mentally and physically and he is still winning, not whingeing, now he is a real champion. Kathy Freeman your career is over, goodbye!
I.Brewer, berks
Well its her choice! But I can't help thinking she may regret it later in life, it's not like she will have to work at it until she is 60 or 70 like the rest of us! Its not often you get the chance to win two Olympic titles in a lifetime let alone one.
Dean, Chelmsford, UK
Cathy Freeman is retiring as she knows that after such a long lay-off she doesn't have the speed endurance to compete no longer. Lack of passion is an excuse as she is too proud to admit she cant "cut it" any longer
Carl Commander, Redditch
| What a very sad day - one of Atheltics' true greats has decided to call time on a great career |
Cathy carried a lot on her shoulders. There were many in Australia who wanted her to fail at the Olympics. But she won in style on that unforgettable night of 25 September 2000.
By sheer coincidence when the nation was enjoying the golden moment, the supposedly 'sports mad' Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard was elsewhere and not in the stadium.
Nihal Kodituwakku, France
What a very sad day - one of Atheltics' true greats has decided to call time on a great career. Good luck Cathy. My only regret on her behalf is that the gold she won in Sydney was in a race where Perec was absent.
Australian's should rightly take pride in Cathy's achievements, they should never be allowed to forget the disgraceful manner in which their media hounded Perec until she left the country, leaving the way clear for a Freeman victory. It seems they were determined that Cathy should win no matter what it took. What a shame Cathy couldn't make it to Paris or Athens where she would have had a chance to truly prove herself against the best of today's superb clutch of 400m runners, including her compatriot, Pitman.
Rob, Cambridge, UK
I am sad to hear of Cathy's retirement. But the memories of how beautiful she looked lighting the Olympic flag, plus taking the gold medal in Sydney 2000 were moments of inspiration for her people and myself. A true heroine.
John McManus, Birmingham, UK
There is always a time to quit and I think Cathy has made the right choice at the right time. Lewis should learn from that before he gets humiliated by young contenders. Cathy has had a sensational and inspiring career. She will be missed dearly.
Nowfa Regis, Belgium
Like Natalie of North London, I was in the 112,000 at Cathy's race for gold in Sydney. I don't think I will ever experience such emotion in sport again. I'm going numb thinking about it!
Only the sixth fastest ever, but so what! Like many old World records, they aren't credible. I would have loved to have seen her win in Paris or Athens just to shut up her critics in Australia. Many wouldn't recognise a champion athlete if they fell on top of them!
Chris Coates, Perth Australia
Your a star Cathy. Better to retire on top of the heap then be remembered as an also ran at Athens. Good luck in your retirement.
Mark S, Australia
It shows how hard it is at the top in athletics to take a year off and expect to be the same again, either mentally or physically.
Freeman's achievements made every Australian very proud, and not just from a nationalistic point - it went a lot deeper. Good on her, whatever she does.
Martin, Highgate, London
Congratulations to Cathy for making this very important personal decision. I think it's great that she hasn't given in to what other people want, but chose to focus on her own needs.
She has proven herself to be a marvellous athlete while representing Aboriginal people in a most dignified and professional manner.
Fitz-David Smith, Minneapolis, USA
| A true champion in every sense of the word! |
Of course she is right to retire. She has performed at the highest levels and surely has the right to say "I have had enough, I want my life back to do something other than train." Good for you girl and have a good life!
Andrew, London
As an Australian and a spectator at both the opening ceremony and the 400m final it is with sadness that I realise I will never get the opportunity to watch Cathy run again.
But to the fellow Aussie who has given me the most memorable sporting night of my life - thank you and all the very best for whatever the future may hold.
Natalie, North London
I am delighted that Cathy has taken this courageous decision - she reached a pinnacle in Sydney which even future gold could not match. As an Aussie I just hope she now takes her grace and wisdom into public life - thanks for the memories Cathy.
Nigel, Melbourne, Australia
A very sad day for athletics. But what an amazing career she had. A true champion in every sense of the word!
Matt, India
It's a shame but not surprising; what else is there for her to achieve after the tremendous Olympic feat? But could Denise Lewis be the next to come to the same conclusion?
Sian Williams, Northampton, UK
Let's be honest. After her great result at Sydney Olympics, Cathy seemed to not care about the sport anymore; as a result, she gained a lot of weight and repeating her Olympic success would have been very difficult.
I think she should have retired right after the Sydney Olympics on the high. But, good luck in the rest of your life, Cathy.
Dawit S., Toronto, Canada
Sometimes many find it difficult to bow out when the ovation is high. Cathy has made the right decision and at the right time too. Others should always learn from her; that when the passion, the urge, the interest, the love is no more there, that it is the time to call it quits.
But remember this is in sports and may not apply in other ventures of life. God bless you Cathy and best wishes in your future careers.
Patrick Akpaka, Kingston, Jamaica
Yes I think she has made the right decision, the 400m in the Sydney Olympics was the highlight of that Olympics. Cathy has nothing to prove, she has done it all. You can't ask anyone to do anymore.
Paul, Limerick, Ireland
Cathy Freeman gave the sport some of its greatest moments of the last 10 years - her silver in Atlanta, her brilliant run in Sydney. It was pretty clear that she wasn't going to get back to that level, so she's leaving at the right time. Her place in history in secure.
Bob Burns, Sacramento, California, USA
| She has been a wonderful athlete, but now it's time for her to do something new |
I feel a great shock. To win an Olympic Gold at home in front 112,000 was truly memorable. Will politics beckon? Hopefully, Cathy will stay in the sport she loved so much and rear the next breed of champions.
Stephen Burgess, Germany
With the relief of winning in Sydney and her husband's cancer, I'm not really surprised at Cathy's decision. She has been a wonderful athlete, but now it's time for her to do something new. All the best in life Cathy, track fans will never forget Sydney!
Sarah L, UK
Congratulations to Cathy Freeman. She was the greatest and we'll always remember that wondrous night in Sydney when she ran into history for the Aborigine people. It's great that she's walking away by saying that her heart's no longer there - instead of a giving us a view of a gradually declining career driven by pots of gold for appearances. Hello Michael Jordan!
Paul, Boston, USA
What a preposterous question! Cathy has achieved all she ever could hope to in athletics and now feels she doesn't have the drive to continue. What right does anyone have to question such a personal decision?
Matt, Aussie in New York
It's a sad day for athletics and sport as a whole. Despite being an Aussie, that 400 metres in Sydney was a truly awesome moment and along with the lighting of the torch was one of those moments that stands out from the games. She'll be much missed but for the reasons she chooses to retire, I don't really blame her, so good luck in retirement, Cathy. Here's to a British gold for Kathryn Merry or Donna Fraser!
Paul Griffin, South London
It is really up to the lady herself, nobody knows her better than herself and if she has not got the desire to continue then it is better just to make a clean break and get out. I wish her and her husband all the best for the future.
David Lillie, Belfast
MMIX
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