Double Olympic champion Hicham El Guerrouj, the greatest middle distance runner of his generation, plans to retire in 2006 after trying to break the 5,000 metres world record next year.
The 30-year-old Moroccan, who won both the 1,500 and 5,000 metres gold medals at the Athens Olympics in August, already holds the 1,500 metres, mile and 2,000 metres world records.
El Guerruoj said 2006 would be "the year of farewell" at a ceremony on Friday in Oviedo, northern Spain, where he received the 2004 Principe de Asturias prize, Spain's top international sporting honour.
Next year El Guerrouj said he would try to break the world 5,000 mark held by Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele, the man he beat to the line in Athens.
