Dai Greene, the former world and Commonwealth champion in the 400m hurdles, has officially announced his retirement

World and Commonwealth champion, and former 400m hurdler Dai Greene, announced his retirement from competitive athletics at the age of 38, Eurosport reported. Despite a highly successful career that included European and Commonwealth crowns in 2010, along with a gold medal at the 2011 World Championships in the 400m hurdles, Greene expressed his belief that he never fully reached his potential.

Reflecting on his achievements, the Welsh athlete revealed through an Instagram post that his decision to step away from the sport was prompted by the birth of his daughter. Greene stated, "My career can be seen as having two halves. By the age of 25, I had won everything in the sport except for the Olympics, yet I feel I never truly fulfilled my potential."

Throughout his career, Greene excelled in both the 400m hurdles and 400m events. He claimed several impressive titles, including the 400m hurdles World Championship gold in 2011 and a silver medal in the 4x400m relay in 2009. Additionally, he celebrated victories at the European and Commonwealth championships in 2010, representing both Great Britain and Wales.

However, Greene encountered a series of setbacks due to recurring injury problems, hindering his ability to reclaim his past heights of success. Particularly, a botched hernia surgery in 2018, along with subsequent corrective procedures, severely impacted his career and prevented a return to peak performance.

Expressing his disappointment with the trajectory of his athletic journey, Greene wrote, "The years between 2013 and 2016 should have been dedicated to honing my skills and maximizing my talent, but a routine surgery gone wrong derailed those dreams." Despite occasional glimpses of his former athletic prowess, the ongoing challenges posed by his injuries proved insurmountable.

Looking to the future, the retired athlete revealed his intention to pursue coaching, having already taken part in mentoring other athletes. While an Olympic medal remains the sole accolade missing from his collection, Greene's contribution as a champion and his dedication to the sport leave a lasting legacy.

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