Olympian retiring
Nathan Brannen retires from national track team
Three-time Olympian and Cambridge native Nathan Brannen is retiring from track and field competition after a 20-year career competing for Canada.
“It’s been a hard decision, but I’m ready to hang up the spikes and retire from professional track and field,” Brannen said in a statement.
“My love for the sport will keep me involved and jumping in the odd road race here and there, but my track days are behind me.”
Brannen bolted out of the starting blocks at the age of 16 when he made his first Canadian national team.
“I still feel like there is a lot of unfinished business in the sport, but at the same time, I feel good about my decision to retire and take the next step in life,” he wrote.
“My wife, Theresa, and two children, Gianna and Grayson, have watched me chase my dreams for a long time, and I’m ready to just be dad.”
Athletics Canada recognized Brannen’s contributions to track and field, including his stellar start in 2001 under coach Peter Grinbergs, running 3:59.85 at the Aileen Meagher Classic to become the seventh “sub-four minute miler” in North America.
It was the start of a formidable career for Brannen, who resides in Michigan with his family. He went on to win six senior 1,500 metre Canadian titles and represented Canada at the 2008, ’12 and ’16 Olympic Games.
Top international results included a silver medal in the ’06
Commonwealth Games and another silver in the ’15 Pan American Games, both in 1,500 metres. Brannen also broke seven Canadian records, four of which remain.
Those title-worthy achievements extended to his time competing for the University of Michigan, where he won four NCAA titles and 11 all-American honours.
Brannen maintains the real victories were realized in finding a strength to persevere on days when he questioned whether he was strong enough to keep going. Ultimately, he said, it was the desire to see how good he could be, and his pure love for the sport, that kept him driving forward. As for the future, Brannen said he might lace up for a different race.
“I’ve been asked too many times if I’ve ever run a marathon and my answer is always no,” he said.
“It’s time to change that answer, but the only question now is which marathon to do as my first?”