Muenzer retires

Olympic track champion Lori-Ann Muenzer, who won the sprint gold medal at the 2004 Athens Summer Games at the age of 38, announced Monday she is retiring from cycling. She plans to concentrate on her business and devote time to a program she's established to develop young cyclists.

Leaving the sport that has consumed her for over 17 years wasn't an easy decision for the Toronto native, who now lives in Edmonton. "I really thought long and hard about it," Muenzer, 40, told The Canadian Press. "To be able to have the ultimate performance you have to have so many things in alignment to make it happen."

During her career Muenzer won two silver and two bronze world championship medals, 11 World Cup medals, and a silver and bronze medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. She also was a 13-time Canadian champion. She was named Canada's female athlete of the year by The Canadian Press and Broadcast News, plus was inducted into the Edmonton and Alberta sports halls of fame.