Lucas Makowsky, Olympic gold winner, retires from speed skating

Canadian long-track speedskater Lucas Makowsky, who helped Canada win a gold medal in men's team pursuit at the 2010 Vancouver Games, has announced his retirement from competitive skating.

The 26-year-old Regina native teamed up with Denny Morrison and Mathieu Giroux to win gold in 2010. Makowsky also was 13th in the 5,000 metres and 19th in the 1,500m in Vancouver.

He also represented Canada at the 2014 Games in Sochi, helping the pursuit team finish fourth and finishing 28th in the 1,500.

"If I continued to skate, I know my heart wouldn't be in it 100 per cent anymore. And if I'm not 100 per cent committed, it'll be impossible to continue to be the very best that I can," he said in a statement on his website Monday.