Felix Sanchez, the Dominican Republic’s greatest Olympian of all time, announced his retirement Tuesday.
Sanchez captured Olympic 400m hurdles titles in 2004 and 2012, the latter coming in upset fashion at the ripe age of 34 years old. He owns two of his nation’s three Olympic gold medals.
Sanchez declined after London 2012, finishing fifth at the 2013 World Championships and ranking 17th in the world in 2014 and outside the top 100 in 2015.
In 2004, Sanchez memorably won gold while wearing a wristband given to athletes at the 2000 Olympic Closing Ceremony, a reminder of his failure to make the final in Sydney.
In 2012, Sanchez pulled out a photo from underneath his race bib after winning the 400m hurdles final. It was an image of him and his late grandmother, which he placed on the track and kissed.
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