Popov denies retirement story

Russian Alexander Popov has denied a story in French newspaper L'Equipe which said he had decided to retire.

He told the Russian Itar-Tass news agency: "L'Equipe is running in front of a locomotive.

"I have not done any official statements and don't have such thoughts," he added.

However, Popov has not confirmed that he will race again and when asked about his future plans, said: "I could rest for the rest of my life with pleasure."

Popov won the 50m and 100m freestyle gold medals at both the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games. In four Olympics he won four gold and five silver medals.

He also claimed six gold, four silver, and one bronze medal at the World Championships, and 21 gold, three silver and two bronze at the European Championships.

The 100m freestyle world record of 48.21 seconds he set at Monaco in 1994 lasted six years until Pieter van den Hoogenband swam 47.84 at the Sydney Games.

After becoming the first man since Johnny Weismuller in 1928 to successfully defend his 100m freestyle title at the 1996 Atlanta Games he was stabbed in the stomach in Moscow.

It was feared he would never win again but he fought back to reclaim his world title at the 1998 World Championships in Perth, although the following year he lost his first major championship when he lost to Hoogenband at the Europeans.