Former biathlon world champion Benedikt Doll of Germany has said on Friday he will end his career after 12 years in the World Cup at the end of the season.
Doll, who turns 34 on Saturday, won eight medals at world championships and Olympics, most notably sprint gold at the 2017 worlds plus pursuit and relay bronze at the 2018 Olympics.
The last was a 20km bronze at the worlds last week in the Czech Republic.
"I will end my career after the winter, and to be honest, it was quite an easy decision," Doll said in an Instagram video.
He added in a German Ski Federation statement he has noticed that "I want to put my energy into new projects and want to spend more time with my family. I can look back on an eventful time that I would never want to have missed."
DSV biathlon sporting director Felix Bitterling praised Doll as "an extraordinary athlete" and "a very special person."
Doll has contested 313 World Cup races, of which he has won six. His last starts will be at the March 14-17 World Cup finals in Canmore, Canada.
