Murakami Mai retires after winning gold and bronze at home gymnastics worlds

Murakami Mai, the Tokyo 2020 floor bronze medallist and now two-time world champion, retired on Sunday (24 October), the final day of the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Kitakyushu, Japan.

"Thank you everyone. I am retiring as of today", Murakami said during a surprise speech during the closing ceremony at Kitakyushu Gymnasium.

"I hope I was able to give you one last joy. I cannot describe how grateful I am. I've managed to come this far and I owe it to all of you".

Murakami had said ahead of the final that these championships could be the last meet of her career, and she was true to her word.

The two-time Olympian said she began thinking about when to call it quits after injuring her lower back two years ago.

After winning her first Olympic medal this summer at Tokyo 2020, and adding a gold and bronze (balance beam) at the worlds on Sunday, the 25-year-old Murakami felt it was time.

"Injuries are part and parcel with gymnastics", she said in a press conference after addressing the crowd.

"When I hurt my back, retirement became a reality. Overcoming it definitely made me stronger but equally, the wear and tear started to take its toll.

"I wanted to be the one to decide when to end it, not by anyone or anything else. I wanted to go out when I could still do it. I began feeling that way when the Games were postponed.

"I think I've done well for myself. Right now I just want a break".

Murakami: "A nice way to end it"

Murakami, who debuted at the Games at Rio 2016, bows out as the most decorated female Japanese gymnast of all-time.

At Tokyo 2020, she captained the Japanese women's team who ended up fifth. Murakami finished fifth in the all-around, the best-ever result by a Japanese female athlete.

By netting bronze in the floor - her signature event - she became the first woman from her country to medal in an Olympic event final.

Murakami also won gold in the floor at the 2017 World championships in Montreal and an all-around silver the following year in Doha.

Murakami did not say what the future holds for her. But she did say her career has come to a happy ending.

"Going out with a gold medal is probably the ideal way to go out but being perfectly honest, I wasn't worried about how I would do here.

"I wanted to perform with gratitude - and the gold medal was a bonus. It's the best gift I could have given myself. Just adds to what I achieved at the Olympics.

"I think this is a nice way to end it".