Sydney: Australian women’s Olympic 400m champion Cathy Freeman announced her retirement on Wednesday less than a month after she had said she had no intention of doing so.

The 30-year-old told the Sydney Morning Herald that she had lost her passion for the sport in which she was twice crowned world champion at 400m. “I’ve lost that want, that desire, that passion, that drive,” said Freeman.

“I don’t care any more,” she told the newspaper from London after holding a meeting with Athletics Australia’s head coach, Keith Connor.

Freeman has had a hard time since the momentous night she took Olympic gold in Sydney in 2000. She then took a year off from the sport to support her husband Sandy Bodecker in his battle against throat cancer. However, they separated earlier this year.

She returned to top competition but only in the 4x400 Commonwealth Games relay in Manchester last year where she claimed gold. (AFP)