Guy Dresser | Royal Canoe Club - Three-time Olympic canoe champion Tony Estanguet announced his retirement today. The charismatic Frenchman, who won the men’s C1 title in London to add to the titles he scooped in Sydney and Athens – told his fans on Twitter: 

I put my boat away. Retired at 34! Thanks to my family, my sponsors and to you all for this nice story.

Estanguet is a huge star in his native France – he’s been at the top of his sport for 12 years, won three World and three European titles and in London became the first French athlete to win three Olympic titles in the same discipline.

He was France’s flag-bearer at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, but didn’t  make the final of the canoe slalom, such are the margins in this sport at the top level.

Estanguet’s departure will leave a significant gap in the French team as he’s easily the best-known male competitor. France does, however, boast two current Olympic champions – Emilie Fer won the women’s K1 slalom.

The newly-retired canoeist now looks set for a career in international sport – he was elected to the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission in the summer, a move which means he will serve an 8 year term as an IOC member once the election results are confirmed. Currently there is an appeal by two other candidates who were disqualified from the Commission election for apparently breaching strict rules on electioneering – one allegedly distributed free lollipops to voters, other athletes taking part in the London Games.

You can read more about Estanguet’s Golden medal in London here: www.sportscene.tv/whitewater/canoe-slalom/news/frances-tony-estanguet-wins-mens-c1-olympic-gold-medal