European Athletics (EAA) – News – Kaniskina contemplates retirement before Rio 2016

One of the greatest walkers of recent times, Olga Kaniskina, has informed the Russian media of her plans to quit the sport before the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

After winning an Olympic gold in Beijing, silver in London and three consecutive world titles as well as the 2010 European crown, the 27-year-old is even cautious about her chances of competing at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow next summer:

"The final decision on my future plans has not been taken yet, I cannot even make plans for the year ahead. I was supposed to retire after the Olympics in London but they have asked me to stay for one more year until the world championships 2013. So first I have to start training again and then see if I can prepare sufficiently well for Moscow." Just for good measure, she added: "I definitely will not be around for Rio 2016."

There are rumours that Kaniskina will be asked to take over as Director of the Saransk sports centre, a hotbed of world-class walking.

According to sources, the matter was discussed at the presentation of the Olympians at a ceremony in the Kremlin between the sports minister, Vitaly Mutko and Kaniskina's coach, Victor Chegin.

When asked, Kaniskina was guarded in her answer. "Better to ask them, not me. Nothing realistic has been offered and in any case the new centre has not been built yet."

Soboleva to compete indoors this winter

World indoor record holder and medallist, Yelena Soboleva, confirmed for the Russian All-Sport agency that she will continue her career after her comeback last summer. Soboleva, who will celebrate her 30th birthday on October 3, confirmed that she will compete during the coming indoor season.

This winter she dipped under 2min indoors and in the summer she got her 1500m time back down to 4:00.09 when she just failed to qualify for the London Olympics at the Russian trials in Cherboksary, where she finished fourth.

European Athletics (EAA) – News