The former Holy Trinity pupil, 35, failed to make the Beijing Olympics after picking up a hamstring injury at the trials in Birmingham.

He has been plagued by injuries for the last 10 years and after picking
up a back injury earlier this year he has now decided to call it a
day.

He said: "I've been a full-time athlete for 12 or 14 years and there
comes a time when you have to call it a day.

"I've never really been the same vaulter since 2006 when I got an
achilles injury.

"I've done a lot rehab since then, and it's not been from a lack of effort or heart it's just my body can't take it anymore."

Nick has the outdoor British record for a Pole Vaulter 5.80m.

He now has two matches left for Crawley Athletics Club in the British League in which he is aiming to get fit for.

The next two matches are on August 2 in Bedford and August 16 in Ashford.

He said: "I'm going to be really sad in my last competition as it's
the end of an era for me.

"It's going to be like I'm grieving for a bit but I will pick myself up
and move on to the next thing."

Nick spent a glittering career fighting his way back from injury against the odds which included one of his biggest highlights in 2004.

Four weeks before the Olympics he had a freak accident where he landed on his pole and ended up losing four kilios of body weight while in hopsital.

For full story see this week's Crawley Observer.