Australian aboriginal athlete Peris to retire

Australia's first Aboriginal Olympic gold medallist, Nova Peris, has announced her retirement from competitive sport to have …

Australia's first Aboriginal Olympic gold medallist, Nova Peris, has announced her retirement from competitive sport to have a baby.

Peris became the first indigenous Australian to win an Olympic gold medal when she played on the women's hockey team that won gold at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

She later switched to athletics, winning the 200 metres title at the 1998 Commonwealth Games. Peris was also a semi-finalist in the 400 metres at the Sydney Olympics, an event won by Australia's most prominent Aboriginal athlete, Cathy Freeman.

Peris was named Young Australian of the Year in 1997 and was the first person to carry the Olympic torch when it arrived on Australian soil before the Sydney Games.