IRELAND’S 400 METRE record holder David Gillick has today confirmed that he is retiring from athletics.
The Dubliner missed out on the London Olympics with a calf injury and the two years since have proved to be a frustrating time on the comeback trail.
Now 31, the European indoor champion of 2005 and 2007, admitted that he had taken the ‘tough decision’ to hang up his spikes in an interview with the Second Captains podcast on the Irish Times.
“I feel the time is right to draw a line in the sand in order to move forward into a new chapter of my life,”said the Ballinteer sprinter who lined out with his local GAA club last month.
Gillick, who also won a world indoor bronze in 2004, has a Masters degree in sports management and says he hopes to continue putting some time in on the track, helping the next generation of Irish athlete to get out of the blocks.
Listen to his full interview with Eoin McDevitt here.
Be handy in compromised rules too
Excellent squad addition to the Mayo set-up.
Best of luck to him. Hope he’ll be an addition to his county. He was very loyal to Connacht and didn’t snub them when Harlequins let him go.
Catching high balls in rugby and GAA are completely different things though…
Looks like hes doing the michael jackson thriller dance in that photo of his days as a minor.
Met him once in Dublin after a Mayo game and you could tell he was very passionate about Mayo football. I have no doubt he will be a great addition to the team in what ever capacity. Don’t forget there were plenty off offers from other rugby teams so he hasn’t taken this decision likely.
Anyone know how good he really I know he hasnt played in a while?
Great if it works, but Horan will look like an idiot if it doesn’t.