FREEPORT, Grand Bahama (CMC) — A sprint icon in the Bahamas, Chandra Sturrup, has announced her retirement from athletics after a long career.

Sturrup, the national record in the women’s 100 metres (10.84 seconds) announced her retirement at the National Open Track and Field Championship in Freeport, Grand Bahama, over the weekend.

The announcement from the 41-year-old athlete comes a year after the the London summer Olympics when she announced her intention to quit the sport.

“I have run my race. It’s sad to leave but you have to go one day,” said Sturrup, who will go down as one of the most accomplished track and field athletes in the history of The Bahamas.

“I have many proud moments but 2000 is the single most proud moment when we got the gold in Sydney. That was a touching moment for me that I have never experienced in my life.”

Sturrup has a personal best time of 22.33 in the 200 metres and was a world-class performer in the long jump as well.

She is a former world indoor champion over 60m, a two-time World Championship bronze medallist, a World Championship sprint relay champion and an Olympic sprint relay champion.

“My hope is that they take their talent and use it wisely and carry themselves approximately,” said Sturrup of the emerging athletes in her country.

“Wherever they go, because they are not just representing themselves they are representing The Bahamas.”

The Bahamas athlete, who made her Olympic debut at the Atlanta Games in 1996, has accomplished all in her career with the exception of winning an individual medal at the Olympics.

“What happens next is that I am going to continue and finish my degree in interior design. I should be finished, hopefully, next year,” said Sturrup, who has represented her country at five Olympic games and eight consecutive World Championships.

“I have been coaching high school for five years now, so I am back and fourth coaching high schools and doing school.”