Olympic gold medallist Duncan Free retires from rowing

• Robert Craddock
• News Limited newspapers
• June 03, 2012 9:52AM

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CALLING TIME: Duncan Free, who was hit by a car on the Gold Coast last year, has retired. Source: AP

FOUR-time Olympian Duncan Free has retired from rowing because of continuing fitness issues arising from a car accident last year.

Free, who partnered Drew Ginn to an epic gold medal victory in the men's pair at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, succumbed to an persistent rib cartilage issue.
He had been attempting to qualify for the London Games with the Australia shadow Olympic squad in Europe.
Free seemed London bound until hit by a car while cycling on the Gold Coast in May last year.
He sustained a fractured right femur in the accident but also longer term complications that caused stress fractures in his ribs.
"The decision was tough and I'm extremely disappointed," the 39-year-old Queenslander said from the Australian Institute of Sport's European Training Centre in Varese, Italy.

"I am quite proud that I was able to come back from the accident and trial for the Olympic Team, as 12 months ago I was unsure if I would ever be able to row again.
"I gave it my best crack and hung in there for as long as I could, but the body couldn't keep up as we were running out of time."
Rowing Australia High Performance Director Andrew Matheson said Free had been one of the world's finest rowers of his generation.
"Over the past two decades Duncan established himself as one of Australia and the world's most successful rowers," Matheson said.
"Duncan's rowing ability was personified by the fact that not only was he Australia's leading sculler for over a decade, but he then made the switch into sweep oar rowing and won Olympic gold.
"His accident last year was always going to be difficult to overcome but his character and determination was incredible and typify the man he is.
"He still has an important part to play in Australian rowing and will be able to pass on a great deal of knowledge."
Free, who made his debut for the Australian Rowing Team in 1994 as part of the men's quad scull, competed at 10 world championships for two gold and two bronze medals.