Commonwealth gold medal winner Dean Macey announced his retirement from athletics today.

The 30-year-old decathlete from Canvey Island has struggled to overcome a series of injuries that have prevented him from repeating his 2001 success in Melbourne. He twice narrowly missed out on an Olympic medal when finishing fourth at both the Sydney and Athens Games.

Macey made one last effort to qualify for the Beijing team in Hexham last weekend but not only failed to earn enough points but also picked up a thigh injury.

It was the latest in a series setbacks, the most serious of which led to surgery on his elbow.

He said: "My heart is there, my mind is there, but my body has finally given in.

"I've given nothing but 100 per cent over the last decade and worn my GB vest with pride."