Five-time Paralympic medallist Maria Lyle has retired from the sport at the age of 24.
The two-time Paralympian won five medals across Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, competing in the T35 category – an event for ambulant athletes with cerebral palsy.
Despite her success in the sport, Scotland’s para-athlete said it had come at a “personal cost” after recently being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) “due to experiences I have had while being in the sport”.
The 24-year-old thanked her friends and family for picking her up during those tough times.
Lyle burst onto the sprinting scene as a 14-year-old, winning double gold at the 2014 European Championships in the women’s T35 100m and 200m.
“I am a person with feelings and won’t be defined by the position I come in a race or the time on the clock,” she posted on social media, external.
“I want to thank the many coaches and training partners that have supported me and been apart of my journey. Additionally, I would also like to thank my friends and family who have had my back the whole way and picked me up when I was down.
“As this chapter closes, I look forward to starting my new job and enjoying the simplicity of normality.”
Lyle would have been in contention for the Great Britain team for the games in Paris later this year, but missed out on initial qualifying having not won a gold or silver medal at last year’s World Championships.
However, despite a second round of qualifying to be announced later this month, Lyle has decided against attempting to qualify.
