Courtesy: USAT

U.S. elite triathlete Siri Lindley, who finished the 2001 and 2002 seasons ranked No. 1 in the world, has announced her retirement from the sport of triathlon.

"This has been the most fulfilling and exciting chapter of my life," said Lindley, 33, who has been a pro/elite triathlete for seven years. "The friendships formed, the memories made and who I am today will last forever.

"Thanks to all of you for making my time in this sport the most memorable and cherished time of my life."

Lindley, a resident of Boulder, Colo., considered retirement after the 2001 season when she won the International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Cup series, the world aquathlon championship and the world triathlon championship.

"I wanted to win the World Cup series one more season to prove that I was a consistent athlete and deserved to be in the No. 1 spot," she said.

Lindley came back to win four World Cup races in 2002, finishing second and third in two other races to win her second World Cup series title.

Lindley says her goal is to stay involved in triathlon through broadcasting, coaching and motivational speaking.

"Siri has been a dominant triathlete over the last several years. We had great hopes for her as we approach Athens," said USA Triathlon Executive Director Steve Locke. "However, there comes a time in everyone's life when a reassessment takes place, and Siri has determined that retirement from elite status is the direction she wants to follow.

"Siri will remain in the sport in one capacity or another, and all of us hope for nothing but the best for her as we go forward."

Lindley was born May 26, 1969 in Greenwich, Conn. She lettered in ice hockey, field hockey and lacrosse during her four years at Greenwich High School. She continued to participate in all three sports at Brown University (Providence, R.I.), where she received a B.A. in psychology in 1991.

Three years later, she was working as a fitness director at a YMCA in Worcester, Mass., when a friend challenged her to compete in a triathlon. She finished 13th in the 25-29 age group at the 1994 U.S. National Championships. She received a pass- down slot to the world championships in Wellington, New Zealand, where she finished seventh overall.

In 1995, she was the third amateur overall at the world championships in Cancun, Mexico. While on the beach in Cancun, she met pro/elite triathlete Karen Smyers, who convinced her to turn pro.

In her first pro season, Lindley placed eighth at the U.S. Pro National Championship in St. Joseph, Mich. In 1997, she qualified for her first elite world championship, where she placed 22nd in Perth, Australia.

Lindley suffered a great disappointment in 2000, when she did not qualify for the U.S. Olympic team. She did not finish the first qualifying race in Sydney, Australia, and finished third at the second qualifying race in Irving, Texas, qualifying her to be the first alternate. She did go to the Games in Sydney, Australia, with the team, but did not compete.

The following year, Lindley switched coaches and came back to have the best season of her career. In addition to winning the World Cup series and the world championship title, she also was named the U.S. Olympic Committee Female Triathlete of the Year and was one of 10 finalists for the Women's Sports Foundation's Athlete of the Year award. She has also twice been named the USOC athlete of the month in 2001 and 2002.