Two-time Olympic medalist diver Alexandre Despatie retires

Alexandre Despatie won silver medals at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics in the 3-meter dive.

Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

MONTREAL -- Two-time Olympic medalist Alexandre Despatie has retired from diving after rebounding from injuries to earn a berth at his fourth Olympics last year in London.

The Canadian, who turns 28 on Saturday, said he gave a lot of thought to the decision and is ready to move forward.

Despatie announced his decision Tuesday in his hometown of Montreal. He burst on the international scene as a 13-year-old when he won a gold medal in 10-meter platform at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.

He is the only diver to have won world championships in all three diving events: 1-meter, 3-meter and 10-meter. He won silver medals on 3-meter at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.

"To be the best that I could ever be was my motto," he said. "To work as hard as I could to get where I want to be was what I did."

Despatie cracked his head on the 3-meter board in Madrid, Spain, last June, sidelining him for much of the run-up to the London Games, where he finished 11th.

He underwent surgery to correct bursitis and tendinitis in his left knee last October, and then had additional surgery a few weeks later.

"I guess in the process circumstances were becoming more and more clear that it was going to be really difficult and demanding for me to dive this year," he said.

Despatie knew he wouldn't be in top shape and ready for the world championships in Barcelona in July.

He plans to pursue a career in television.