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Gebrselassie says he will retire after dropping out

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Word spread Saturday that the great Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia had a knee problem. Then came a message from his Twitter account Sunday morning that seemed both casual and ominous.

“I have some inflammation in my right knee because of the long travel to NY City,” Gebrselassie or his agent wrote. “No big problem, just some fluids. Hopefully the knee holds.”

It did not.

At 1 hour 19 minutes 40 seconds of the New York City Marathon on Sunday, as the men’s lead pack descended the Queensborough Bridge near the Mile 16 marker, Gebrselassie grimaced, slowed and drifted to his right, finally stopping as the leaders ran on.

The man widely considered the greatest distance runner of all time reached a premature finish in the New York City Marathon and, if he is to be believed, a stunning finish to an unparalleled career at age 37.

Tears in his eyes, a clearly devastated Gebrselassie limped to the podium at a postrace news conference and announced that he was retiring immediately.

“I never think about retiring,” he said. “For the first time, this is the day. Let me stop and do other work after this. Let me do other jobs. Let me give a chance for the youngsters.”

Perhaps his body had finally betrayed him once too often after nearly two decades as a top runner. If so, Gebrselassie was in no mood for explanation. “I don’t want to complain anymore after this,” he said. “Which means it’s better to stop here.”

Full story: Gebrselassie Says He Will Retire After Dropping Out – NYTimes.com