Olympics high jump champ Beitia retires

Madrid: Olympics champion high jumper Ruth Beitia has retired from athletics due to persistent injuries, the Spaniard announced today. The 38-year-old, who won the high jump competition at the Olympic Games last year, is the only Spanish female athlete to have won an Olympics gold. She has combined her sporting exploits with a career in politics since she was elected to the regional parliament of Cantabria with the ruling PP party in 2011. — Reuters