Triple World Champion and Olympic medal-winning track cyclist Ethan Mitchell has called time on his illustrious career.
The 30 year old was an intergral part of the men's team sprint trio with Sam Webster and Eddie Dawkins.
The trio finished on the podium at the world championships for five straight years including the rainbow jersey in 2014, 2016 and 2017, while Mitchell won bronze in the individual sprint in 2017.
New Zealand men's sprint team Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster, Eddie Dawkins competing at the 2017 world champs. Photo: www.photosport.nz
The team sprint combination also won gold medals at the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games, as well as a nail biting silver medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
Mitchell cemented his stature as the world's best team sprint starter in Rio, when he became the first rider to go under the 17-second barrier.
Mitchell said he wanted to take some time out after the Tokyo Olympics to contemplate if he wanted to continue through to this year's Commonwealth Games and beyond, or to finish. And if so, what would he do with his life.
"I also wanted to decompress from that five-year campaign and work out what is next rather than just stop riding my bike. It was a matter of figuring out what I am good at other than riding a bike fast and take the time to contemplate that.
"After all, high performance sport is all-encompassing. You give it all of your attention and everything you have. And I have dedicated myself to being the best I can be. But the time is now right for me to move on," he said.
-RNZ