Sonia O'Sullivan announces retirement from athletics

Sonia O'Sullivan has announced her retirement from athletics at the age of 37.

The Cobh athlete will make one final competitive appearance when she takes part in the Great BUPA Run in Dublin on April 15.

O'Sullivan was Ireland's greatest and most popular athlete for many years winning an Olympic silver 5,000m medal in Sydney in 2000, World Championship gold in 1995, three European gold medals and two World Cross-Country titles.

She missed a chance to compete in last year's Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, under the Australian flag, when she was forced to pull out with a hamstring injury.

The Cork-woman, who spends at least half the year down under with her Australian husband and manager Nic Bideau and two children, was granted dual citizenship just before the tournament.