2008 Olympic cycling champion Nicole Cooke retires

Britain's Nicole Cooke celebrates after winning the women's road race in the 2008 Olympics.

MARTIN BERNETTI/Getty Images

LONDON (AP) -- British cyclist Nicole Cooke, the gold medalist in the 2008 Olympic road race, is retiring.

The 29-year-old rider from Wales also won the world road race title in 2008, the first person to win both events in the same year.

She said Monday she is "very happy" with her career and she leaves with "many, many happy memories over what has been my life's work since I was 12. I have won every race and more that I dreamed I could win."

Cooke's win at the Beijing Olympics was one of eight gold medals by Britain's cyclists at the 2008 Games. Her title defense in London ended with a 31st-place finish.