With three Winter Olympics under his belt as well as time spent in the record books, Jon Eley has certainly made the most of his 15-year international short track speed skating career.
But now the 31-year-old admits he is ready for the new challenge of being a father after deciding to hang up his skates.
Having won bronze at the 2004 World Junior Championships, Eley burst on the senior scene two years later as he finished fifth in the 500m on his Olympic debut in Turin.
And while that was as good as it got on the Olympic stage – finishing one place further back in 2010 and seventh last year – Eley also had the honour of being the Team GB flag bearer in Sochi.
That might have been just the boost he needed towards the next Games in Pyeongchang in 2018, but Eley insists three is certainly the magic number with success being hard to come by since Sochi, not to mention the fact that he and wife Jo welcomed baby Grace into the world two months ago.
“The main reason for retiring was that success had become few and far between of late,” Eley said.
“I got into this sport to be successful and to win and those moments had dried up a bit so it was an easy call in that respect.
“I was never a fan of training, it was all about racing the big events and finals and that part I will miss.
“But the other side of it was that me and my wife now have a two-month old daughter and that just helped sway the decision.”
With three World Cup events already in the book for the current short track speed skating season, Eley will stay on until the conclusion of the World Championships in March as a mentor to the current British team.
And they would be wise to listen to his advice with Eley, alongside Jack Whelbourne, Richard Shoebridge and Paul Stanley, helping Great Britain record a new 5000m relay world record back in a World Cup event in Germany in 2011.
Their time of 6:37.877 minutes has since been bettered but Eley revealed this and several other moments from his illustrious career will live long in his memory.
“Being part of the relay team that set a world record was fantastic,” he added. “And being flag bearer for the team in Sochi is something I think about too.
“Leading the team out in Sochi was something I will never forget and locking back and having all the guys behind me was amazing.
“But for me it all goes back to Turin and my first Olympics and making the final with my whole family in the stands.
“Without my friends and family and coaches these things would never have happened so I am grateful for everything and can look back fondly on my time competing.” Sportsbeat 2015