BEIJING, China, January 24. CHINA'S Luo Xuejuan, plagued by illness for months, has apparently filed retirement papers in her home province of Zhengjiang. Reports out of China indicate that Luo is experiencing heart difficulties and will hang up her suit after an illustrious career that included a gold medal in the 100 breaststroke at the Athens Olympics.
Experiencing several fainting spells, Luo opted to bypass the Asian Games in December in order to prepare herself for returning to competition down the road. She also recently announced that she would not participate in the World Championships in March in Melbourne. Aside from her Olympic title, Luo won gold in the 50 and 100 breast at the 2001 and 2003 World Champs, held in Fukuoka (Japan) and Barcelona, respectively.