Erin Hartwell, an American cycling veteran of three Olympics, announced his retirement on Friday due to injury.

A bad heel injury that has dogged Hartwell since February has shown little improvement, prompting the 32-year-old to leave the US Saturn team.

A 12-time National champion, Hartwell has focused on team pursuit and road sprinting in the last two years.

He won a bronze medal in the 1992 Olympics and then a silver in 1996.

And he was a member of the team pursuit squad at the Sydney Games last year.

Hartwell also captured bronze medals in 1995 and 1998 and a silver in 1994 at the world championships.

He hopes to now turn his attention to becoming a pilot and will join a flight school in North Dakota.