FILE PICTURE: (L-R) Silver medalists Kate Roberts, Henri Schoeman, Gillian Sanders and Richard Murray of South Africa celebrate on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Triathlon Mixed Team’s Relay Final at Strathclyde Country Park during day three of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games on July 26, 2014 in Glasgow, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
The two-time Olympian and Commonwealth Games athlete competed at the top for 14 years, winning four African championships, and a silver medal in the mixed team relay at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games earlier this year.
“I have been blessed with a greater career than I could ever have imagined,” she wrote in her blog confirming her decision.
“From an early age of nine-years-old, I had a clear dream to represent South Africa at an Olympics and I can proudly say that I made the most of the opportunities available and I gave absolutely everything to live this dream and represent my country.”
Roberts would not be lost to the sport entirely. She planned to run an elite junior triathlon academy at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria.
Reflecting on the state of local triathlon, Roberts said the sport was in a healthy state with plenty of participation but it was counter-balanced by an absence of proper structures, which she hoped to help address.
“The sport desperately needs this so there will be future South African triathletes transitioning to world class standard at International Triathlon Union (ITU) level — the Olympic distance format — so we can develop future Olympians.”
Roberts also intended shifting to trail running next year, channeling her athletic talent into a single discipline.
– Sapa
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