A round-up of the latest from the world of the sport, including news that two-time Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen has decided to end his career as a professional javelin thrower

Thorkildsen retires

The 2004 and 2008 Olympic javelin champion Andreas Thorkildsen has called time on his illustrious career.

“Have decided to end my career as a professional javelin thrower, it's been a fun ride. Thanks for all the support these years. Thanks to everyone who have helped me along the way,” he said on his Instagram page.

Thorkildsen missed the 2015 season through injury and was planning to make his comeback in the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene at the end of the month.

As well as his Olympic titles, the Norwegian thrower also claimed European titles in 2006 and 2010 and the world title in 2009.

Thorkildsen’s lifetime best of 91.59m set at the 2006 Bislett Games places him seventh on the world all-time list.

James vs Merritt in Eugene

The men’s 400m rivalry between Kirani James and LaShawn Merritt will return to the Prefontaine Classic on May 28. After sub-44 races in the past two years, it is possible that one of the oldest meeting records - 43.92 by Michael Johnson in 2000 - could take a tumble.

Other participants in the race are Botswana's Isaac Makwala, Yousef Masrahi of Saudi Arabia, Jamaica's Rusheen McDonald, Qatari talent Abdelleleh Haroun, Trinidad's Machel Cedenio and Bahamas' Steven Gardiner.

First Brazilian athletes selected for Olympics

Brazil has named its first athletes selected for the Olympic Games on home soil.

For men in the marathon are Marilson Gomes dos Santos, Paulo Roberto de Almeida Paula and Solonei Rocha da Silva, while in the women's marathon are Adriana Aparecida da Silva, Marily dos Santos and Graciete Moreira Carneiro Santana.

Also selected are three men for the 50km walk - Jonathan Riekmann, Mário José dos Santos Junior and Caio Oliveira de Sena Bonfim.

Fraser-Pryce to miss Shanghai

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has been forced to withdraw from the Shanghai Diamond League on Saturday due to a small toe injury.

She was due to contest the 200m.

Also no longer in the start lists on the event website is US sprinter Tyson Gay, who was scheduled for the 100m.

Further athletes announced for Gotzis

More top names have been added to the Gotzis Hypomeeting on May 28-29, informs organisers.

Additions to the heptathlon field include former world champion Hanna Kasyanova, last year’s third-placer Nadine Broersen, Nadine Visser, Anouk Vetter, Nafissatou Thiam, Eliska Klucinova, Alina Fodorova and Swiss Ellen Sprunger, while additions to the decathlon field include Olympic fourth-placer Hans van Alphen, world junior champion in 2014 Jiri Sykora, European under-23 champion Pieter Braun, Niels Pittomvils, Adam Sebastian Helcelet and Pelle Rietveld.

Miguel Angel Lopez for Rio 20km and 50km

Spain's world and European 20km walk champion Miguel Angel Lopez will contest the 20km and 50km walk at the Rio Olympics, informs MARCA.

Lopez will be joined in the 20km by Alvaro Martin and Jesus Angel Garcia, plus Jose Ignacio Diaz in the 50km walk.

Having finished tenth in Rome last weekend, Raquel Gonzalez has been pre-selected in the women’s 20km walk while Trihas Gebre has been named in the 10,000m. Veteran high jumper Ruth Beitia has also gained pre-selection.

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