Shalane Flanagan, one of America's most decorated long-distance runners of all time, has announced her retirement.

In her 15-year career she has won Olympic silver in the 10,000m and she won the New York marathon in 2017. Flanagan was the first American woman to win the New York endurance race since Miki Gorman in 1977. 

She won her Olympic silver in controversial circumstances as she originally won bronze but Elvan Abeylegesse tested positive for doping and so Flanagan's finishing position was changed.

The American took to Instagram to make the announcement. She said: “I’ve broken bones, torn tendons and lost too many toenails to count. I’ve experienced other-worldly highs and abysmal lows. I’ve loved (and learned from) it all.

 “Each season, each race was hard, so hard. But this I know to be true: hard things are wonderful, beautiful and give meaning to life.”

Flanagan is now turning to commentating for the New York marathon on November 3.