Jack Carlin, four-time Olympic medallist in track cycling (bronze and silver in Paris 2024 and Tokyo 2020), as well as three-time silver medallist in World Championship, has announced his retirement at age 28 in a press conference. He said he doesn't feel he would still be able to return to his 100% shape and keep it three more years to the 2028 Olympic Games.
"Looking back at my career, you can win or lose things by thousands of a second, and if I wasn't going to give that 100%, which I don't feel I have to give, I don't think it's worth doing. I think I'd be doing myself a disservice, the people around me a disservice, and also the jersey a disservice", he said.
Carlin injured his hip when he crashed in a race at the Paris Olympics last year, and didn't return since. He says he is happy with his career, but wondered "what else is there to chase when I don't have 100% of me to give to it anymore?"
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"If I was to look back and say to 18-year-old Jack, 'Listen, you're going to walk away in 10 years' time with four Olympic medals around your neck...' I think I would have bit your hand off for that."
When he was 14, Carlin fractured both his ankles and stopped playing football. He chose to pursue a career in mountain and road cycling, but seeing how the weather is in Scotland (he was born near Glasgow) he chose to try track cycling when a velodrome opened in 2012.