Ice hockey legend Lemieux retires

Lemieux made the announcement at a news conference in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Penguins player-owner and ice hockey legend Mario Lemieux announced his retirement on Tuesday.

The 40-year-old Canadian has made the decision as a result of health problems after being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation last month.

Lemieux has not played a National Hockey League game since 16 December because of an irregular heartbeat.

"The time is right because I can no longer play the game at the level I'm accustomed to," said Lemieux.

"That has been very frustrating for me throughout this past year.

The highlight would have to be winning the Stanley Cup in the early 1990s here in Pittsburgh Mario Lemieux

"I also realise my health is the most important thing in the world to me and my family.

"It's always a difficult decision to make for any athlete but the time has come."

He retired for the first time in 1997 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame later that year.

Lemieux is the seventh all-time leading scorer in NHL history with 690 goals and 1,033 assists in 915 games, and he led the Penguins to two Stanley Cup titles.

"I have a lot of great memories from the past 20 years or so," he said. "The highlight would have to be winning the Stanley Cup in the early 1990s here in Pittsburgh.

"Of course, winning the (Olympic) gold medal in 2002, the World Cup in 2004 and the Canada Cup, way back in 1987.

"Those are some great memories that I'll cherish for the rest of my life."