Zuzana Hejnova, the two-time 400 meters hurdles world champion has decided to retire from track and field. She made the announcement on Tuesday, revealing also that she is pregnant.
Hejnova had a fruitful career on the track, having won multiple championships medals, including winning gold medals at the 2013 and 2015 World Championships and a claiming bronze at the London Olympic Games in 2012.
The 35-year-old Czech icon is now excited about a new celebration!
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“I’m going to have a baby with my boyfriend. It would be hard to conceal so I have to spill the beans,” Hejnova said in a statement.
“I’ve had a great career (but) now I’m looking forward to my new role,” she added.
Hejnova, who missed the entire competitive 2021 season where she was hoping to land another podium place at the Tokyo Games last summer, has been sidelined with injuries since September 2020.
In addition to her world championships titles, Hejnova won three European Championships bronze medals and a pair of World Indoor Championships silver medals and won the European Athlete of the Year Award in 2013.
She is ending her track career with personal bests of 52.83 seconds in the 400m hurdles, 51.90 and 51.27 (Indoor) in the open 400m.
Hejnova has also contested the Pentathlon and Heptathlon multi-events in her versatile career.
