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28 Jul 05 23:44 00:44 UK |
Commonwealth swimming champion Karen Pickering has confirmed her retirement from international competition.
Pickering, who won gold in the 200m freestyle in Manchester in 2002, last competed for GB at the Athens Olympics.
The 33-year-old Ipswich swimmer became Britain's first female world champion when she won the 200m freestyle at the short-course event in 1993.
She will compete for the final time at a national competition in next weekend's Commonwealth trials.
Pickering won medals at world, European and Commonwealth level after making her senior international debut in the 1990 Commonwealth Games.