MEXICO CITY, July 16: Mexico’s Ana Guevara, the favourite to win the women’s 400 metres title at this year’s world championships, has wished Olympic champion Cathy Freeman luck in her retirement from the track.

“It’s surprising news because you never expect your main rival to give up,” said Guevara, the current world number one.

Guevara, 26, said she realised it had been difficult for 30-year-old Freeman to return to top form after a year off following her triumph on home soil at the Sydney Olympics and the recent divorce from her husband, whom she had nursed through throat cancer.

“I don’t know why she decided to end her career, but one thing is certain: it is not going to make me slow up in my preparations for the world championships,” Guevara added.—AFP