Haigh (pictured top, right), 30, who took bronze in the women's pair with Rebecca Scown (pictured top, left) in August, said: "While I still have a great love for rowing, I no longer feel that I can commit to a fourth Olympic campaign.

"This is a tough and demanding sport that requires committing every part of yourself to one goal."

Haigh made her senior debut in 2003, and within two years she and Nicola Coles were world champions in the pair, a title she shared again with Scown in 2010 and 2011.


However, the double world champions had to settle for third at the London venue of Eton Dorney behind Helen Glover and Heather Stanning, who took Britain's first gold of the Games, and silver medallists Kate Hornsey and Sarah Tait of Australia.

Haigh's medal was won two days before her partner, Mahe Drysdale, added Olympic gold to his own five world titles in the men's single sculls.

Also announcing his retirement is Matthew Trott, who was part of the men's quadruple scull that finished seventh for New Zealand at Eton Dorney.

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