Athletics: Heptathlete Louise Hazel has announced her retirement from athletics
Commonwealth heptathlon champion Louise Hazel has announced her retirement from competition.
Last Updated: 02/09/13 4:40pm
The Birchfield Harrier, who competed in the London Olympics finishing 27th, is to focus on a new fitness and nutrition business as well as her role as an ambassador for the British Heart Foundation.
The 27-year-old won gold in Delhi in 2010 but has decided not to defend the title in Glasgow next year after struggling to overcome injuries.
"I really enjoyed last season and the Olympic Games was well worth all the years of sacrifice," she told athletics weekly.
"Sponsorships and endorsements, as many athletes found, were very hard to come by after the Olympic Games so that uphill struggle begins all over again as you look to the next Olympic cycle.
"I felt it was the right time for me to take the momentum that I had coming off the Olympics last year to channel my energies and focus into something else."
Hazel also competed at the 2009 and 2011 world championships and is seventh on the UK all-time list for heptathlon with her score of 6166.