Injury forces marathon king Gebrselassie to retire

Haile Gebrselassie, the fastest marathon runner in history, stunned the racing world Sunday, tearfully announcing his retirement hours after pulling out of the New York City Marathon because of a knee injury.

The 27-time world record-holder and two-time Olympic gold medalist awkwardly limped into a packed media room and dropped the bombshell.

"When I announce this, maybe everybody becomes a little bit shocked," said Gebrselassie, 37, who barely could prop himself onto his chair. "I, myself, I don't want to complain anymore after this, which means it's better to stop here."

The long-distance runner had concerns he wouldn't be able to finish the race after an MRI Saturday revealed fluids and tendinitis in his right knee. Still, he surged on.

"I did really very hard training to win this race," he said. "It didn't work. After this, I know I have no discussion with my manager, with anybody. But I discuss it with myself. That's why it's better to stop here."

A tearful Gebrselassie hurriedly tried to limp off the stage, but before he could, one reporter shouted, "Haile, you're not running anymore? You're retiring right now?" Overwhelmed by emotion, Gebrselassie quietly answered, "Yes."

The Ethiopian had hoped to secure the 10th marathon victory of his career, but the pain finally became too much to bear, the remaining distance seemingly insurmountable. Gebrselassie pulled up grimacing near mile 16 on the downhill portion of the Queensboro Bridge after running for 1:19:40.

"I'm a little bit disappointed," he said. "Disappointed to myself. I knew this when I arrived here in New York. I told you this is not that serious. I thought this was not that serious."

Men's winner and fellow Ethiopian Gebre Gebremariam said he tried unsuccessfully to keep Gebrselassie going on the bridge.

"I'm very, very sad," Gebremariam said. "I said, 'Haile, come on.' [He said] 'I can't, Gebre, you have to move, you have to reach them.' Haile is special. Haile is very king. So even [though] Haile's retiring, we have to learn so many things from Haile."

Said defending champion Meb Keflezighi: "He's a role model on and off the course. A great ambassador for this sport. I'm honored to be in the same race with him. He's the greatest, probably, distance runner ever."

Gebrselassie, who set his incredible world record of 2 hours, 3 minutes, 59 seconds two years ago in Berlin, didn't specifically address how he felt during the race or if his decision to retire was based on his disappointing showing.

"No complaints, really," he said. "It's better not to complain anymore."