Haugh of Urr Olympian Jo Muir has announced her retirement from modern pentathlon.
The 28-year-old has been on Pentathlon GB’s World Class programme for the past 10 years – a period which saw her claim a European Championships silver medal and a World Cup gold, as well as 14th place in the Tokyo Olympics.
But she has now called time on her career to take up a post with a sports marketing agency in London.
Muir said: “I’ve had the most amazing 10 years on the World Class Programme for Pentathlon GB.
“Sadly, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to be an athlete forever and whilst I’ve been very fortunate that my body allowed me to do it for so long, I feel really happy with the decision I’ve made.
“I’ve had some of my greatest memories but also some of the most valuable lessons through sport and have made friends for life along the way.
“I’m retiring happy, content and excited for my next chapter.
“I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey and to everyone who has supported me. To the programme, the coaches and staff, my teammates, UK Sport and The National Lottery, my fellow competitors, my family and friends and particularly my parents because without them none of this journey would ever have been possible in the first place.”
Muir began her journey as a Pony Club athlete, encouraged by mum Susan who was a keen equestrian. After taking part in Pony Club tetrathlons, she took part in Pentathlon GB’s schools biathlon championships.
And when she took part in the 2009 British Schools Championships at Pentathlon GB’s University of Bath training centre, her eyes were opened to a world of possibilities, her dreams of becoming a full-time athlete beginning to form.
She enrolled in a sports performance degree at the University of Bath and was soon a regular on the world stage, becoming a regular top 10 finisher at junior competitions in 2015.
The two-time Stewartry Sports Personality of the Year won gold at the Swiss Women’s International and was fifth in the 2016 European Championships, competing against athletes who were heading to that year’s Olympics.
Her real breakthrough came in 2019 when she won the Budapest Indoor competition, recorded two top 10 World Cup finishes and took fourth in the European Championships in Bath.
The following year started well as she took her maiden World Cup victory in Cairo before the country went into lockdown.
When competition resumed, qualifying for the Olympics – delayed by a year – was her main goal. She took three more top six finishes in the World Cup – including a silver medal – and finished sixth in her first ever World Cup final, putting her top of the Olympic Ranking list. That secured her place in Tokyo where she finished 14th, team-mate Kate French winning gold.
She was back in action in 2022 after a short break, taking fourth place in a World Cup competition.
And in what proved to be the final competition of her career, she won a silver medal in the 2022 European Championships before joining forces with Charlie Follett and Kate French to win gold in the team competition.
Pentathlon GB’s head women’s coach Michael Janca said: “Jo is a bubbly individual and we will miss her smiles and chattiness within the training centre. She has always displayed excellent work ethic – even if at times this has caused her a few mishaps.
“At competition, Jo has been one of the most focused athletes I have worked with, from the first minute of the competition through to the last few metres of a laser run course she has always committed 100 per cent.
“She has excelled across the disciplines but for me it is her laser run that she has shown most tenacity.
“Her ability to lock her eyes on the next runner until she catches her is immense.
“We want to wish Joanna good luck in her next chapter and know that she will continue to be a great ambassador in whatever she achieves next.”
Pentathlon GB’s performance director Jon Pett added: “Everyone at Pentathlon GB wishes Jo the very best as she continues her transition from her athletic career. I’m particularly pleased that she has found a next chapter of her career that she is just as positive about as our sport – as such I’m confident she will be just as successful.
