Melbourne:
Six-time Australian Olympian James Tomkins announced his retirement on Thursday from competitive rowing.
Tomkins, who represented Australia at the Olympic Games between 1988 and 2008, winning three gold medals and one bronze, turned 45 on Thursday and said the time was right to focus on the next stage in his life.
Tomkins won his first Olympic gold medal as part of the "Oarsome Foursome" in the men's coxless four in 1992 in Barcelona, winning the same title four years later in Atlanta.
He won his third gold medal in the men's coxless pair at the 2004 Athens Olympics, after picking up a bronze medal in Sydney in the same event four years earlier.
Tomkins, who finished sixth in the men's eight at the 2008 Games in Beijing, carried the Australian flag at the opening ceremony.
During the Beijing Games, Tomkins was elected chairman of the Australian Olympic Committee's athletes commission.
"James has made and continues to make a unique contribution to the Australian Olympic movement," AOC President John Coates said. "He is a true champion in every sense of the word."
Earlier this year Tomkins was awarded the Thomas Keller Medal by international rowing governing body FISA, which is given to one rower each year to recognise a significant contribution and outstanding level of achievement in the sport of rowing.
Tomkins is also the only rower to have won world championships in all sweep oar rowing events -- men's eight, men's four, men's coxed four, men's coxed pair and men's pair.
He won a total of seven world championships and also won a gold medal at the 1986 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games in the men's eight.
Tomkins, who represented Australia at the Olympic Games between 1988 and 2008, winning three gold medals and one bronze, turned 45 on Thursday and said the time was right to focus on the next stage in his life.
Tomkins won his first Olympic gold medal as part of the "Oarsome Foursome" in the men's coxless four in 1992 in Barcelona, winning the same title four years later in Atlanta.
He won his third gold medal in the men's coxless pair at the 2004 Athens Olympics, after picking up a bronze medal in Sydney in the same event four years earlier.
Tomkins, who finished sixth in the men's eight at the 2008 Games in Beijing, carried the Australian flag at the opening ceremony.
During the Beijing Games, Tomkins was elected chairman of the Australian Olympic Committee's athletes commission.
"James has made and continues to make a unique contribution to the Australian Olympic movement," AOC President John Coates said. "He is a true champion in every sense of the word."
Earlier this year Tomkins was awarded the Thomas Keller Medal by international rowing governing body FISA, which is given to one rower each year to recognise a significant contribution and outstanding level of achievement in the sport of rowing.
Tomkins is also the only rower to have won world championships in all sweep oar rowing events -- men's eight, men's four, men's coxed four, men's coxed pair and men's pair.
He won a total of seven world championships and also won a gold medal at the 1986 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games in the men's eight.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
