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Thirty-two-year-old British middle-distance runner Laura Weightman has announced that she will hang up her spikes and call it a career. After suffering several injuries and enduring surgeries and the recovery process, she decided enough was enough. However, she will continue her involvement in the sport, primarily coaching.

Weightman told the BBC, “A day that has come far sooner than anticipated. But I must sadly announce my retirement as a professional athlete,” said Weightman.

“I’ve had a very challenging few years dealing with a number of injuries, surgery and extensive rehab.

“Throughout this period, I always believed I could return and compete again at the highest level, but my body is saying no.

“In order to protect my long-term health, I’ve made this very difficult decision. I’m heartbroken I won’t get to race just one last time.”

Weightman owns a 1500-metre personal best of 4:00.09, which she ran in Berlin three years ago. Showing range, she ran the 5000m event in Monaco that same year in the time of 14:35.44. She did not have the chance to fully explore the super shoe era. If able to continue the expectation is that her bests would be faster. Perhaps sub-4:00 and 10 to 15 seconds faster in the 5000m event.

Weightman earned silver and bronze medals in the 1500m and 5000m events during the Glasgow and Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, respectively. She is a four-time national 1500m champion. In 2012, she competed in the London Olympics where she made the final. It would turn out to be year that half of the field was eventually suspended for doping-related reasons.

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