Richards

Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Two-time World Indoor 400m champion Sandie Richards has officially announced her retirement from track & field.

Richards, who won the 1993 and 2000 World Indoor Championships titles, abandoned plans for another World Championships appearance, the big stage on which she made her announcement 20 years ago.

"It was a tough decision to make after 20 years of competing for my country and for myself, so it took me a year to decide that I can do it," Richards said. She started at Clarendon College as a middle distance runner and moved to shorter events as she found them "challenging and good fun".

Success came quickly with a national junior 400 metres record in 1986, the year she became the first Jamaican to win a medal - bronze - at the inaugural World Junior Championships.

She also captured the gold medal at the Pan-American Junior Championships that same year.

Richards, who holds the national 400m Indoor Record of 50.93 seconds, also captured gold in the mile-relay at the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton where she teamed up with Lorraine Fenton, Debbie-Ann Paris-Phynes and Catherine Scott to win the final.

Richards, who won individual bronze and silver at the World Championships in 1993 and 1997 respectively, spoke of her plans for the future.

"I am coaching Moya Thompson, so I am trying my hand at that," she said.

Olympic programme

"I am in the Olympic programme here (Texas) and I am also doing personal training."

A 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games 400m finalist and 1998 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Richards said the highlights of her career included "... making my first Olympic team in 1988, even though I did not win a medal, because I was still a youngster, and winning a few medals for my country and also carrying the Jamaican flag at the last Olympic Games".

She added: "I don't think there is anything to be ashamed of, I am fine with everything," added the Goodwill Games silver medallist.

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