Jason Gardener is ready to walk away from indoor athletics after becoming the first modern era sprinter to win three consecutive European crowns. The Bath star, who also holds the world indoor 60m title, completed his historic treble on Saturday in Madrid.
But on Sunday he confirmed he would not seek to defend his latest win and may skip future indoor seasons entirely.
"I'm not saying it's never-never, but future indoor championships do not figure in my plans," Gardener said.
The Olympic relay gold medallist also revealed he feared he would not achieve his dream of a hat-trick of European Indoor titles going into the championships.
But the desire to prove the critics wrong and the lure of another record drove him to succeed, despite having his preparations rocked by a stomach bug.
"Some people thought because of the illnesses I've had lately I shouldn't have come here," said the 29-year-old.
"Even my coach Malcolm Arnold said that if I didn't pull my act together and kept running outside of the 6.60s I was going to face an uphill task and not make the final.
"But these situations help you find out more about yourself, and I like to do that.
 | Age: 29 Event: 100m and 60m indoors Personal best: 9.98 seconds (100m)
6.46 seconds (60m) Honours: Olympic 4x100m gold (2002), World 4x100m silver (1999), Commonwealth 4x100m gold (2002), World indoor 60m gold (2004), bronze (2002, 1999), European indoor 60m gold (2005, 2002, 2000) silver (1998), British 100m champion (2004, 1999,1997) Coach: Malcolm Arnold Club: Wessex & Bath |
"To succeed in any job you have to have self-belief.
"Let's face it. I was up against it and was putting my head on the line. I didn't see competing as a risk, just as a massive challenge I had to win.
"It was my last European indoors, and I wanted to go out on a high.
"It was one of my main reasons for coming here, to win the title three times in succession and create a little bit of history.
"Knowing that Linford (Christie) had the British best with two victories was also a target enticing me to win a third gold medal."
Gardener clocked 6.55 seconds to seal his hat-trick, with Great Britain team-mate Mark Lewis-Francis taking silver for the second successive championships in 6.59 secs.
Pre-race favourite Ronald Pognon, of France - whose season's quickest of 6.45 beat Gardener's career best - was forced to settle for bronze in 6.62.
But Gardener admitted Pognon was a major threat.
Recalling the race the softly spoken Briton said: "I realised I had got out fast and at 50m there was nothing but a massive determination to keep going.
"Malcolm and I always believed I was capable of winning but it was always going to be an enormous challenge as the heats showed - when there was a dogfight between me and the Frenchman.
|  I have been nowhere near my best, but Malcolm has instilled into to me never to lose faith in myself |
"He's been running much faster than me and everyone else this year and he took away my European record.
"Also I have been nowhere near my best, but Malcolm has instilled into me - as he does with all his athletes - never to lose faith in myself.
"I never do - and I had a massive impetus to succeed. From start to finish, I ran superbly and was pleased with how easy it was to score a victory.
"Can I say it again - I'm a championship runner."
Gardener now plans a short rest before preparing for the summer season when reaching the 100m final at the World Championships in Helsinki will be his top priority.
MMIX
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