Source: Marca | Translation: Gonzalo Melero (no proofreading) - After three intense days of rumors and give and takes, an emotional David Cal officially announced his retirement from professional sport. From the town hall of his home village Cangas de Morrazo, the Galician canoeist commented in a press conference that he didn’t feel "comfortable" lately, "lost motivation" and the desire to continue competing.

Cal, 32, is Spain's most successful Olympian with five medals, one gold and four silvers. He wanted to thank for the support of all who have always accompanied him, for so many years of competition.

The diary MARCA already announced his retirement last Wednesday after some rumors confirmed by the Spanish Olympic Committee. Therefore, the canoeist has lamented how he has been pushed to announce it, through a press conference quickly arranged last Friday. He actually planned a different farewell, by talking first with his closer circle and then make it public.

"When I read the MARCA on Wednesday I said 'Man! I’m in a mess!'. It came along by surprise and it messed up everything. In the end we made this press conference something hurriedly," jokes David Cal at the microphone of Radio MARCA.

He has chosen Cangas de Morrazo for this announcement to be surrounded by the people who have always been with him, the place where he was grown up.

Among other things, this is one of the reasons for his retirement. During the last year he was training in Sao Paulo, far from home, "I am a home-buddy and I was 8,000 kilometers from my home, my family and my friends".

But "the main reason is the lack of motivation," he commented. "If you're not in the correct mood and you're not willing to pay the price you have to pay to get an Olympic medal you have to step away," he says.

David Cal had lost motivation to continue at the highest level and, day after day, that was undermining his will to push, work hard and get ready to compete.

"To train just because you’re used to it and then wait if something happens... I did not like that situation, it was getting very hard on me, I did not work with the same intensity. This accumulation of things has been wearing me down. They are many years competing," said Cal.

"At times I felt alone, I had no one by my side in training. That demotivates a lot, the intensity goes down and the desire fades away". Therefore, he didn’t feel ready to fight for the Olympics, so he’d rather stop: "Better leaving now than getting knocked out in competition".

With rumors saying that his coach, Suso Morlan, was one reasons for his withdrawal, the canoeist has made clear that it is not: "No one has failed me, the only one failing was me. I’ve been with my coach for 18 years, it has been said that we had problems, but I can say that I get on very well with Suso. He’s the main one responsible for my successes and I can only be thankful for all those times we've had, both good and bad," he declared.

The most difficult thing for David Cal was telling this decision to his parents. He didn’t know how they would react. But once done, he immediately received support and understanding.

"It took me quite a while telling my parents I was retiring. But when I did it, my mother supported me with everything. She didn’t hesitate and gave me reassurance and support from the first moment."

Cal says it is a very conscious decision. "You always try to think positive" and "turn things up", but "when everything becomes this complicated it has to end like this."

The most successful Spanish Olympic medalist feels he’s a privileged man and appreciates everything he has achieved: "I feel privileged. I practiced canoeing since I was eight years old and I've achieved everything I aimed for. Competing in the Olympic Games, winning a medal, becoming Spain’s flag bearer...," said Cal, reviewing his success as an athlete.

"Now I want to be at home with my people, my friends, my family... Enjoy my time with them. I also want to do something related with sport and remain connected to it. I think I can bring and give a lot of experience," concluded David Cal.