Ruth Beitia, Olympic high jump champion, has retired

SANTANDER (ESP): Reigning Olympic and European high jump champion Ruth Beitia has announced her retirement at the age of 38. "It has been a long road that has lasted many years and I have pushed my body to the limit on many occasions. The situation I face (now) is to finish my sporting career but everything I have learnt will touch the other aspects of my life," said Beitia. Beitia became the oldest winner of an Olympic high jump title last summer aged 37 and she also became the first athlete in history to win three European high jump titles in Amsterdam. She also won the European indoor high jump title in 2013 and a bronze medal at the 2013 World Championships. "The greatest athlete in Spanish history has retired. She has always been an example on and off the track. She has inspired athletics and inspired young boys and girls," said Raul Chapado, President of the Spanish Athletics Federation.