Five-time Olympic champion Sir Bradley Wiggins retires from cycling

Five-time Olympic champion Sir Bradley Wiggins has announced his retirement from cycling aged 36.

Britain’s first Tour de France winner, in 2012, said he had fulfilled a “childhood aspiration” of making a career out of the sport.

Wiggins became Britain’s most decorated Olympian in August when he won the team pursuit gold on the track in Rio, his fifth gold and eighth Olympic medal.

He secured eight world titles on the road and track and set the world record for the furthest distance ridden in one hour, at the London Olympic velodrome, at 54.526km.

Sir Bradley Wiggins Accolades

• Britain’s most decorated Olympian with five gold medals in his haul of eight
• 2000 – wins first Olympic medal, bronze in Sydney
• 2004 – first Briton to win three Olympic medals at same games since 1964
• 2008 – wins two gold medal at Beijing Olympics
• 2012 – first British winner of Tour de France
• 2012 – wins time trial gold at London 2012
• 2012 – BBC Sports Personality of the Year winner
• 2012 – Velo d’Or winner (best cyclist of the year award)
• 2013 – knighted for services to cycling
• 2014 – world road time trial winner
• 2015 – sets world hour record on the track at 54.526km
• 2016 – wins eighth Olympic medal in Rio
• Won eight world titles on the track and road

Written by David Kugonza