Naoya Tsukahara, who helped Japan win the men's team gymnastics gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, is to retire, a source close to the matter said Friday.
Tsukahara, 38, took Australian citizenship in 2013 and had been aiming to compete at this summer's Rio de Janeiro Olympics. But he missed out on a chance to compete in Brazil at a domestic selection qualifier in Canberra last month. Tsukahara will hold a press conference next Wednesday.
The Tokyo native competed in three consecutive Olympics from the 1996 Atlanta Games. He won the all-around silver medal at the 1999 world championships, having taken bronze two years earlier.