Three-time Olympic champion and Canoe Sprint legend Sebastian Brendel has called time on his career.
The German, however, will remain in the sport and continue working as a coach at boyhood club KC Potsdam.
The 37-year-old, who will soon start in his role as Police Commissioner at the German Federal Police, won his first Olympic gold medal in the canoe single 1000m at London 2012.
At Rio 2016, he became the first paddler in 64 years to defend his title in the C1 1000.
The Olympic Games in Brazil also saw Brendel bag the canoe double 1000m gold medal with Jan Vandrey. He also has a C2 1000m bronze from Tokyo 2020 with Tim Hecker.
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His final appearance at the Games was in Paris last year, where he finished eighth in the C1 1000m.
“I’m incredibly grateful for a really great time as an athlete. In 25 years of performance sports, I’ve experienced many highs but also lows that I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” he wrote on Instagram.
“I want to thank everyone who supported, encouraged and motivated me... Without you, this path would not have been possible. That was great...THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!
“Even if I will no longer be at the starting line myself, I will continue to maintain the sport and look forward to the tasks to come.”
Apart from his Olympic exploits, Brendel has 13 World Championships gold medals to his name and has triumphed multiple times at the European level.
He is also the recipient of prestigious honours, including the Silbernen Lorbeerblatt in 2012, the highest state sports award in Germany.
In 2015, the German Olympic Committee (DOSB) presented him with the Kienbaum Award in recognition of his diligence during training and for being a positive example to young people.
Tributes poured in for Brendel from the paddling world, including a special one from long-time rival, friend, and Olympic champion Isaquias Guimaraes Queiroz of Brazil.
“Today, my heart is filled with gratitude. Thank you for these 11 unforgettable years of rivalry and respect on the water. I’ll never forget our first race together back in 2013 in Poland — the moment I lined up next to my greatest idol. It’s a feeling I’ll carry forever,” five-time Olympic medallist Queiroz said on Instagram.
“You’ve always been more than just a competitor — you’ve been a true reference, a benchmark for excellence. On and off the water, my admiration for you only grew stronger. You’ve been a huge inspiration in my journey to becoming a champion. Thank you for everything. Your legacy will forever be written in the history of Sprint Canoeing. The greatest of all time.”
Czechia's Martin Fuksa, Portugal's Fernando Pimenta, and compatriot Tom Liebscher were among the many stars of the sport who wished him on social media.
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