Olympic silver medalist Chellsie Memmel is set to retire from gymnastics after finishing the Kelloggs Tour of Champions this weekend in Brooklyn.
“Sad to be done competing but excited for the next phase of my life!” Memmel posted on Twitter. “I want to thank my family, friends, teammates, coaches and fans for their love and support, which means the world to me.”
The 2005 all-around world champ and six-time world medalist made the first of her record 10 national teams at age 12 and overcame injuries time and time again, including toughing it out through busted shoulder during the 2006 world championships and a broken bone in her ankle during the 2008 Beijing Games.
Memmel, who U.S. coach Martha Karolyi called “one of the most talented gymnasts” she’s ever met, tried to make one final comeback for the for the London Olympics, but couldn’t recover from shoulder surgery in time to perform well at the Secret U.S. Classic in May and failed to qualify for nationals in June.
The 24-year-old is eager to start her life after competitive gymnastics, but won’t be far from the gym. She’s in the process of becoming a gymnastics judge, possibly a coach, and is prepping a wedding for next August.
