Aussie Commonwealth Games gold medallist Dale Parker retires from cycling at age of 19

An Australian track cyclist who won gold in the team pursuit at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi last year and who was in training with his country’s track squad for next year’s Olympic Games in London next year has announced his retirement from the sport at the age of just 19.

Dale Parker revealed his decision to his friends on Facebook and told Adelaide newspaper The Advertiser that he no longer felt passion for the sport.

The paper reported that Parker had also said he did not want to disappoint people by carrying on with the sport when he no longer felt fully committed, and that he was looking forward to moving on with his life.

Parker made the headlines last November just a few weeks after winning that gold medal in Delhi when he was suspended by Cycling South Australia following a drink drive incident that left a friend of his seriously injured. He was subsequently banned from driving for five months.

He returned to racing this year with Lance Armstrong’s Trek-Livestrong Under-23 team, and won the time trial in this year’s Tour of the Gila, a performance that helped him earn a ride for RadioShack in August’s Tour of Utah alongside Levi Leipheimer and Janez Brajkovic.