Gold medallist Regal ends ‘epic journey’

Gold medal canoe racer Caitlin Regal has announced she is retiring from the sport.

The 29-year-old announced her retirement via Instagram, saying she is ‘‘moving onto another part of my life journey’’.

Regal (nee Ryan) won gold at the Tokyo Olympics in August with Lisa Carrington in the K2 500m.

She and Carrington also won gold the K2 500 at the 2017 world championships in the Czech Republic and she won a bronze in the K4 500 there.

‘‘I will take away so many memories with so many great people along the way. My kayak career has had its turbulence but from those experiences and learnings I have grown into not only an Olympic gold medallist but an even better version of myself,’’ she said.

She acknowledged her coaches and support staff who ‘‘have believed in me at times when I didn’t believe in myself’’.

‘‘I can not thank you enough for the time and energy put into this career of mine,’’ she said.

’’To my team-mates who gave me more giggles then (sic) most people have in a lifetime, who I have shared more tears with then anyone else and who I had the honor to train, paddle and celebrate with and who will still be my friends in this new journey thank you for making my job so much better.’’

Regal also acknowledged family and friends and said she is looking forward to making up for missing events and ‘‘large life milestones’’.

‘‘I hope you follow my new journey which is equally challenging but just as epic,’’ she said.

Paddling partner Lisa Carrington described Regal’s career as an ‘‘epic journey’’.

‘‘You were an incredible training partner and team-mate, pushing me to reach my potential. So I thank you my friend for all your support,’’ Carrington said in an Instagram post.

Regal first competed on the international scene at 2013 world under 23 championships in Canada, just seven months after taking up the sport. She won gold at the 2015 World Cup in Portugal in the K4 500m, and claimed silver in the K2 500m.

In the same year she set the world’s fastest time of 1:46.576 for the K1 500m in Hungary in preparation for the World Cup.

Regal made her first Olympic appearance in Rio in 2016 in the K4 500m alongside Jaimee Lovett, Kayla Imrie and Aimee Fisher. The team finished fifth.

In 2018, she got silvers in the K2 500 and K4 500 at the world championships in Portugal.

Regal is also a decorated surf lifesaver, having won several national titles.