Gebrselassie calls it a day

Haile Gebrselassie has announced his retirement from competitive running.

The 42-year-old Ethiopian confirmed his decision after finishing 16th in the Great Manchester Run on Sunday. 

It brings to an end a 25-year career in which he claimed two Olympic gold medals, eight world championship victories and set 27 world records. 

"I'm retiring from competitive running, not from running. You cannot stop running, this is my life," he told BBC Sport. 

Gebrselassie remains the world record holder at 20,000m and the one-hour race. 

He had announced his intention to retire five years ago after injury problems, before returning to racing months later. 

Gebrselassie failed to qualify for the London 2012 Olympics but won the Great Scottish Run in Glasgow a year later, as well as his third consecutive Vienna City half marathon —BBC