South Australian Institute of Sport (SASI) graduate and Australian track cycling sprint icon Matthew Glaetzer has announced his retirement, bringing the curtain down on a remarkable 15-year career at the highest level of the sport.

Glaetzer officially called time on his career today, concluding a journey with the ARA Australian Cycling Team that spanned four Olympic Games and three Commonwealth Games, and cemented his place as one of Australia’s most decorated track cyclists.

“I want to sincerely thank each and every one of the people around me throughout my career for the support, guidance and belief you have shown me,” Glaetzer said.

“As many would know, I have been working towards a new career as a firefighter and this year I have been fortunate to commence full-time employment in that role. With this transition, I’m formally announcing that I am retiring from the sport to which I have dedicated the past 15 years of my life.

“I am proud of what I have achieved and deeply grateful for the people who have been part of that journey. If, along the way, I have had any positive impact on you, then I consider my time in the sport a true success.

“Thank you again for everything. I am excited to embrace this next chapter and continue serving the community through my new career with the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service.”

Today’s announcement confirms the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as the 33-year-old’s final competitive appearance, delivering a storybook finale to an already decorated career. In Paris, Glaetzer achieved a lifelong ambition, securing bronze in the team sprint before backing it up with another bronze in the keirin. He described the long-awaited Olympic breakthrough as “like a gold to me.”

Glaetzer’s Olympic journey was one defined by persistence and resilience. From a fourth-place finish in the team sprint at London 2012, to two heartbreaking fourths at Rio 2016, and another near miss at Tokyo 2020, his eventual podium in Paris was a moment shared and celebrated across the nation.

He retires with an extraordinary 18 major international medals, including two Olympic bronzes, seven Commonwealth Games medals (five gold, two bronze) and nine UCI Track World Championship medals (three gold, four silver, two bronze).

Glaetzer’s path to cycling success was far from conventional. As a young athlete, his ambitions lay in pole vault and triathlon before a shift to cycling revealed his sprinting potential. SASI played a pivotal role in that transition, providing the high-performance environment, coaching and support that helped shape his development from a promising junior into a world-class athlete.

After joining the Central Districts Cycling Club, Glaetzer quickly rose through the ranks, representing Australia at the 2009 UCI Junior Track World Championships before claiming junior world titles in the sprint and keirin the following year. By 2011, at just 18 years old, he had already stepped onto the senior world stage, winning bronze in the team sprint at the UCI Track World Championships.

His career reached new heights between 2012 and 2018, where he became a household name through standout Olympic and Commonwealth Games performances. Yet, it was his resilience in adversity that defined the latter stages of his journey.

In late 2019, Glaetzer was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in a shock moment that reverberated through the sporting community. Following surgery, he made a remarkable return to racing within a month, producing podium performances at UCI Track World Cups and ultimately earning selection for Tokyo 2020.

SASI Director Keren Faulkner paid tribute to Glaetzer’s career and character, highlighting the qualities that made him a role model both on and off the track.

“Matthew’s career has been extraordinary, but what stands out most is his strong work ethic, integrity and values,” Faulkner said.

“He has been a consistently high performer over many years, and his accomplishments are something all South Australians are incredibly proud of. There was a real collective sense of excitement when Matt broke through to win his Olympic medals in Paris – it felt like a moment shared by the whole community.

“SASI has been proud to support Matt throughout his journey, particularly as he transitioned into cycling and developed into one of the world’s best. He leaves a legacy that will inspire the next generation of athletes.”

As Glaetzer steps away from elite sport, he does so not just as a champion cyclist, but as a symbol of perseverance, adaptability and quiet determination. His next chapter, serving the community as a firefighter, reflects the same commitment and purpose that defined his career on the track.