Welsh swimmer David Davies has annouced his retirement from the world of competitve swimming. Hailed as one of Britain's most successful Olympic swimmers he has enjoyed a career spanning the last decade.

Barry-born Davies made his international debut swimming for Wales at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002 and followed it up a year later with a fourth place in his first World Championships.

It was at the Olympic Games in Athens where Davies made his mark on world swimming, when at the age of 19, he won his first Olympic medal, bronze in the 1500m Freestyle and continued his success from there.

In his ten-year tenure on the international scene, the three-time Olympian has won medals in the 1500m Freestyle at every level of international competition.

In 2008 Davies broke into Open Water Swimming and in his first World Championships won silver and qualified for the inaugural marathon swimming event at the Beijing Olympics.

The British record holder won his second Olympic medal in Beijing taking silver in the 10km race and earned his place in the Swim Wales Hall of Fame.

On his next step Davies is excited to be taking up a position with Sport Wales to help inspire the next generation of Olympians.

"I have had an amazing career," he said."I have achieved so much more than I ever thought possible when I was a youngster.

"I have had terrific support from my family and my coach of many years Dave Haller in Cardiff who coached me to my first Olympic medal in Athens.

"I would also like to thank everyone at British Swimming who has helped me along the way.

"I had three great years at Loughborough under the guidance of Kevin Renshaw who coached me to a silver medal in Beijing. I have made some fantastic friends along the way.

"I am going on to work as a Performance Lifestyle Advisory/Athlete Mentor for Sport Wales so I hope to stay involved with young swimmers and hopefully help them to achieve their sporting ambitions as I have."