Olympic rowing medallist Barney Williams retires

Olympic medallist Barney Williams of Salt Spring Island, B.C., announced his retirement from the Canadian national rowing team on Thursday.

Williams, 30, enjoyed a successful 10-year career with the national team, which included an Olympic silver medal in the men's four at the 2004 Athens Olympics and world championship in the same event in 2003.

In a statement, Williams thanked his family, friends, sponsors and coaches who have supported him over the years.

"While highlights are truly too numerous to list, representing Canada in Athens on the biggest stage in amateur sport in front of so many friends and family is hard to top,"he said.

Williams, who recently finished a master's degree in management studies at Oxford University, where he was a two-time Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race winner, plans to spend more time with his wife, national team member Buffy,and son Tavin.

"I have been blessed with such a rewarding career and to have forged several lifelong friendships," he said."The sport has provided me so much more than I ever would have imagined when I first arrived at Cherry Beach on Lake Ontario at 5:30 a.m. one cold morning in March 1992."

Williams had been hoping toqualify forthe 2008 Beijing Games this August, but his men's four boatfinished adisappointing 14th at this summer'sworld championships in Munich and failed to lock up a berth.

"I wish the Canadian team the very best in the run-up to Beijing and beyond, and am confident that they will be very successful given the dedication and passion they have displayed over the last three years."

Williams'snext goal is to pursue a career in the sports broadcasting world.