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Bradley Wiggins retires as Great Britain’s most decorated Olympian

Cycling - Track - Olympics: Day 7

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 12: Gold medalist Bradley Wiggins of Team Great Britain poses for photographs with his fifth gold medal in his career after at the medal ceremony for the Men’s Team Pursuit on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Velodrome on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

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Bradley Wiggins is retiring after all.

Wiggins, the most decorated British Olympian with eight medals, had been placed on British Cycling’s national track team for 2017 in case he decided to continue competing as he approaches age 37.

Turns out, he won’t be using that spot.

“2016 is the end of the road for this chapter,” Wiggins said on his team’s official Facebook page.

In his last race, Wiggins won a six-day team track event with Mark Cavendish in his birthplace of Ghent, Belgium, on Nov. 20.

“This will be the last time we race together, for sure, maybe not my last, individually,” Wiggins said then.

Wiggins’ career included not only the record eight Olympic cycling medals and five golds, but also the first Tour de France title for a Brit in 2012.

He also won world championships in the road time trial and track’s individual pursuit, team pursuit and madison.

Great Britain’s most decorated Olympians
Bradley Wiggins, Cycling -- 8 medals, 5 gold
Chris Hoy, Cycling -- 7 medals, 6 gold
Jason Kenny, Cycling -- 7 medals, 6 gold (ACTIVE)
Steve Redgrave, Rowing -- 6 medals, 5 gold

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