Olympic medallist Matthew Glaetzer is the latest Australian cycling great to announce his retirement.
The track sprinter, who overcame cancer and a succession of Games near-misses to win two bronze medals at the Paris Games, has quit the sport to focus on his new career with the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service.
It means the Paris Olympics were Glaetzer's competition swansong.
Glaetzer had said after he won bronze in the team sprint and keirin Paris would be his last Olympics.
One of Australian cycling's most respected figures, Glaetzer is a four-time Olympian and also competed at three Commonwealth Games.
He won three world titles and five Commonwealth Games gold medals.
Glaetzer had endured a succession of fourth places at his previous three Olympics and the traumas around Tokyo, when he overcame thyroid cancer and a badly blown calf to compete.
“As many would know, I have been working towards a new career as a firefighter and this year I have been fortunate to commence full-time employment in that role," Glaetzer said in an AusCycling statement.
"With this transition, I’m formally announcing that I am retiring from the sport to which I have dedicated the past 15 years of my life.
“I am proud of what I have achieved and deeply grateful for the people who have been part of that journey.
"If, along the way, I have had any positive impact on you, then I consider my time in the sport a true success."
The 33-year-old joins an impressive list of Australian cyclists who have either retired in the last year or will soon end their stellar careers.
They include road sprint ace Caleb Ewan, who retired last May.
Olympic team pursuit medallists Michael Hepburn and Alex Edmondson joined national road champion Miles Scotson in closing their professional careers in the European off-season.
Simon Clarke bowed out after the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in February and fellow super domestique Luke Durbridge will retire after next January's Australian road championships.
Amanda Spratt, whose glittering career features two podium finishes at the world road championships, will also retire at the end of this season.
