ISTANBUL 

Kenyan women’s marathon record-holder Mary Keitany announced her retirement because of back injury.

"A long journey finished. Really proud for what I have done and for ur support all around the world and during all races," Keitany, 39, said on Instagram. "A new chapter of my life starts.”

Keitany holds the world record for a women-only marathon with a time of 2:17:01 when she won the 2017 London Marathon.

She won the New York Marathon four times in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018, and the London Marathon on three occasions in 2011, 2012 and 2017.