The Hindu : Sport / World View : Perec calls it quits

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Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004

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Sport - World View

Perec calls it quits

PARIS, JUNE 8. Olympic gold medallist Marie-Jose Perec said in a television interview on Monday that she was finally putting an end to her athletic career.

``I have definitely turned the page,'' the French sprinter told television station TF1.

Rumours, fuelled by a long absence from the track, had swirled for months that the 36-year-old star would announce her retirement.

Perec told TF1 that she envisions a career in tourism in Guadeloupe. However, in the short term, she plans to be a television consultant for the Athens Olympics.

Perec had hoped to compete in the 2003 World championships but could not make it due to sciatic nerve pain that dogged her for months. She has not officially raced since a meet in Nice in July 2000.

She won the 400m at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, and four years later claimed the 400m and 200m at the Atlanta Games.

But she missed the Sydney Olympics in 2000 when, under enormous media scrutiny, she made a decision to flee before defending her title.

``I am a human being, I cracked, I cracked,'' Perec said. — AP

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