bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Ira Gorawara

It was time to bid adieu and hang up the boots for some athletes in Paris this summer.
Some of them made their final splash in Paris, while others bowed out quietly, leaving behind years of international glory.
But whatever it was, it was time to trade in the gear for a spot in the history books.
Here are five noteworthy athletes who have officially retired from international contention after this year’s Games.
So long, and thanks for the memories.

Arrived in Paris for my last ever tennis tournament @Olympics
Competing for 🇬🇧 have been by far the most memorable weeks of my career and I’m extremely proud to get do it one final time! pic.twitter.com/keqnpvSEE1
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) July 23, 2024

Andy Murray
Legendary tennis player Murray posted a mic drop of a tweet after his final international tennis match at the Olympic quarter-finals.

Never even liked tennis anyway.
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) August 1, 2024

He then changed his X bio from “I play tennis” to “I played tennis”, which, I guess, is one way of doing it.
Anyway, when the Scot waved to the crowd after completing his grand finale, the weight of the moment hit home – it was the final bow for the three-time grand slam champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist.
After his final match, the LTA announced that The Queen’s Club would be rechristened The Andy Murray Arena to honour his record five titles at the venue.

Vinesh Phogat
This one was quite literally the opposite of Murray’s announcement.
In a post on X translated from Hindi, Phogat wrote: “My courage is broken, I don’t have any more strength now. Goodbye wrestling, 2001-2024.”
How’s that for a cry fest?
But no wonder, considering Phogat’s retirement followed her disqualification from the women’s 50kg final for being 100 grams over the weight limit.
After toppling a four-time world and the defending Olympic champion and cruising through her quarter- and semi- final, Phogat could have become India’s first woman to compete in an Olympic final.
Instead, she went home empty-handed and a retired legend.

Marta
“Pepe in skirts” called time on her career before the Games.
The legendary footballer announced her retirement in April, adding that Paris would be her last appearance on an international field.
Lauded the best women’s soccer player in the world, Marta is a six-time Fifa World Player of the Year and has skill in spades.
After sacrificing a settled home for football, Marta was the linchpin of a Brazilian squad that clinched two Olympic silvers in 2004 and 2008.
Although her career ending was tarnished by a red card in Brazil’s final group-stage game, Marta returned to come off the bench in the 1-0 loss in the final against the USA, and her legendary stature remains untarnished.

Patty Mills
It was a gutting way to exit, but what a career for Mills.
Mills’ Australian squad had their Olympic run dashed by Serbia in the quarter-finals, but not before a buzzer-beating jumper from Mills sent the game to overtime. However, Serbia advanced 95-90 to leave the Australians in their wake.
That’s a bitter farewell to a career glittered with an Olympic ring, an Olympic bronze and four Oceania Championships.
Mills remains a free agent in the NBA, so while his international career has ended, the 1.88-metre guard may not yet be done with the sport.

Kellie Harrington
This farewell was nothing short of cinematic.
Harrington edged past China’s Yang Wenlu by a split decision in the final of the women’s lightweight category in Paris to retain her crown from Tokyo – becoming the first Irish boxer to complete the feat.
The world, European and two-time Olympic champion has carved herself a place as one of Ireland’s greatest athletes.
She told reporters after the bout: “When you reach a mountain, find a bigger mountain. And that’s what I’ve done. It wasn’t easy to climb that mountain.”
But, she added, there were no more mountains left in her career to climb.


5 fresh starts for 2025 exercise goals: looks from Lululemon, Sweaty Betty, Nike and Hoka to inspire you to join Gwyneth Paltrow and Olympic fencer Cheung Ka-long in upping your fitness game

Meet Rose Zhang, the ‘Mozart of golf’ who’s a Rolex and Adidas ambassador: from record-breaking World Amateur to double NCAA Division I champion … but why is she being compared to Tiger Woods?

Hong Kong Olympian Stephanie Au eyes World Championships, National Games spots in 2025

Hong Kong’s year in sports: Olympic success and readying Kai Tak complex

Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Paris Olympics: thanks for the memories – 5 athletes for whom the Games was the last adieu

Andy Murray of Britain waves farewell after losing his match with Daniel Evans against Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul of the US. Photo: Reuters

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement after being disqualified from her final. Photo: Reuters

Marta, a six-time World Player of the Year, played her last game for Brazil in the final loss to USA. Photo: Xinhua

Patty Mills bowed out of international basketball after losing to Serbia in the quarter-finals. Photo: Reuters

Kellie Harrington became the first Irish boxer to successfully defend an Olympic gold medal. Photo: Reuters

An Olympics in the city of love? Of course people got engaged – here are our top 5 proposals

Liu Yuchen (right) and fiancee, gold medallist Huang Yaqiong, are all smiles after getting engaged in Paris. Photo: Xinhua

Chinese badminton player Liu Yuchen (right) gets down on one knee for Huang Yaqiong. Photo: Xinhua

Paris Olympics: China table tennis legend Ma Long hints at retirement after sixth gold

Chinese table tennis icon Ma Long has suggested he may call time on his storied career after winning a sixth Olympic gold medal. Photo: Xinhua

Gold medallists (from left) Ma Long, Wang Chuqin and Fan Zhendong wave to fans. Photo: Reuters

Paris Olympics: China’s best overseas Games and rivalry with US set scene for LA in 2028

China’s Li Wenwen celebrates gold in the women’s +81kg weightlifting on the final day of the Games. Photo: dpa

Pan Zhanle (left) inspired China to gold in swimming’s men’s 4x100m medley relay. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka-long won gold to repeat his exploits in Tokyo in 2021. Photo: AP

Wu Yanni, in the 100m hurdles, typified China’s showing in track and field. Photo: Xinhua

Paris Olympics: doping, fan culture and shallow pool among top 5 storylines at Games

China’s Pan Zhanle’s world-record shattering 100 metres freestyle race led to criticism over how it was achieved. Photo: Kyodo

China’s Pan Zhanle won the 100 metres freestyle final with a world-record time. Photo: Kyodo

Questions have been raised over whether the more shallow pool had an effect on swimmers’ times. Photo Reuters

Several issues and concerns were raised throughout the Games regarding the Olympic Village. Photo: EPA

Chen Meng (right) was abused on social media after beating Sun Yingsha in the table tennis final. Photo: Xinhua

Algeria boxer Imane Khelif kisses her gold medal after victory over China’s Yang Liu in the 66kg final. Photo: AP

Cheung Ka-long’s gold, Pan’s record, China’s bad maths – the most dramatic Olympic moments

Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka-long was involved in one of the most dramatic climaxes in Paris as he won his second Olympic gold medal. Photo: AP

Italy’s Filippo Macchi was left devastated by his last-gasp defeat to Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka-long. Photo: AP

China get it all wrong as they lose by a single point against Spain in the women’s basketball group phase. Photo: AFP

Pan Zhanle was China’s hero as he roared the team to gold in the men’s 4x100m medley. Photo: AP

As close as it gets, with Noah Lyles (in lane seven) winning the men’s 100m by the tiniest of margins. Photo: AFP

Sport

Paris Olympics 2024

From a previously little-known wrestler to a celebrated tennis legend, these sports greats finally called time on their illustrious careers


From a previously little-known wrestler to a celebrated tennis legend, these sports greats finally called time on their illustrious careers.
