The 27-year-old world recordholder and three time outdoor world champion said she had been reflecting on whether to take a break or not."I have been thinking over this very carefully the last three weeks and now come to the conclusion that a break from competing is absolutely necessary for me," she said in a statement yesterday.
"After more than eight years of very hard training and competing at the highest levels both indoors and outdoors each year I need to step back in order for my body to properly recover.
"It is my full intention to continue training and keep myself fit. At this moment I cannot exactly say when I will return to competitions."I have not completely ruled out the entire summer circuit or the European Championships in Barcelona," added the four-time world indoor champion, who has taken the event onto another sphere.
"Nothing has changed with my long term goals which includes the 2011 and 2013 World Championships and the Olympic Gold in London 2012."
Published 11 April 2010, 15:35 IST