Britain’s four-time Ironman triathlon world champion Chrissie Wellington announced her retirement yesterday after a one-year break from the sport.

“The World Ironman Champion-ships in 2011 was the icing on the cake for me as an athlete. It was my ‘perfect race’ and it ‘completed’ me,” the 35-year-old said.

“My passion for the sport hasn’t waned, but my passion for new experiences and new challenges is what is now burning the most brightly.”

Wellington, a former civil servant for the British government before turning professional, won the world Ironman championships – a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run – in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011.

She was unbeaten in 13 races.

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