South African Paralympic star Malcolm Pringle, nicknamed the Pringle Express, has officially announced his retirement from athletics.
Pringle was not included in the recently named South African squad for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, and said this was an indication that his 17 years of top-level competition was at an end.
”It is with great regret that I have decided to retire from international athletics,” said Pringle. ”I always told myself that I would carry on until the day I was not selected. Unfortunately for me, I have not made the squad for 2008. This is an indication that I must stop.”
Pringle began his international athletics career at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics. The cerebral-palsy athlete has since represented South Africa at the Sydney and Athens Paralympics and the 1998 and 2002 World Championships in the 400m, 800m and 1 500m.
He is a multiple medallist at the Paralympics and holder of the world record in the 800m.
”It has been a long road from the Paralympic Games in Athens, and a very difficult one too,” said Pringle. ”I would like to thank everyone who supported me in my incredible career. It was a real blessing from God. But 17 years is enough. It is now time for me to have fun and not worry about training all the time. I just want to have a lot of fun from now on.”
Alison Burchell, chef de mission of the Paralympic team in Athens, said it was with regret that the team had accepted Pringle’s decision.
”We respect Malcolm’s decision. He has been a great ambassador for Disability Sport South Africa and has represented his country with distinction throughout his career. We wish him all the best in his retirement.” — Sapa