Aussie Daniel Kowalski Retires, Cites Injuries

MELBOURNE, Australia, May 8. DANIEL Kowalski, Australia's personable Olympic gold medal-winning relay swimmer and 1,500 meter freestyle silver medalist, retired on Wednesday after battling persistent problems with shoulder injuries.

Kowalski, 26, won a silver medal behind Australia's Kieren Perkins in the 1,500m freestyle at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and overcame injury to win gold in the 800m freestyle relay at the Sydney Games in 2000.

"Along with my shoulder frustration, I now have a neck injury that is contributing to me losing feeling in my mouth at times during the day along with pins and needles in my hands," Kowalski said in a statement released on Wednesday.

"I have loved every moment in the sport and I will miss it immensely."

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