BORDERS Olympian Chris O’Hare says he is “happy to be a retired athlete” after announcing the decision on social media.

Scotland’s male indoor mile record holder won a silver European Championship medal and two bronzes during a stellar career.

The 31-year-old, who was brought up in West Linton and attended Peebles High School, said he would “miss everything” about racing.

“Retiring is never an easy decision for an athlete to make but I am relieved to say that although I will miss everything about training and racing, I am happy to be a retired athlete,” O’Hare said on Instagram. “Running has blessed me with so many wonderful opportunities and so many wonderful lifelong friendships.

“I wouldn’t have been able to achieve what I did without the unwavering support of so many people committed to making my dreams a reality.

“Thank you to my amazing parents and siblings who sacrificed so much since I was 12 to give me every opportunity to succeed.

“Thank you to my perfect wife who has always supported my dream and who never failed to step up and parent alone when I was away racing or on training camps for months at a time.

“Thank you to my coaches throughout the years – Terrence Mahon, Steve Gulley, Dave Campbell and Charlie Russell – for always steering me in the right direction and giving your all to my development as an athlete and as a man.

“Thank you to my children, Ronan, Riley, and Quinn for being the best source of motivation an athlete could ever ask for, and for cuddles on the couch when I needed them most.”

He added: “Finally, thank you to all those who have supported me from afar, with kind messages when I won and more importantly, messages of support when I didn’t.”

O’Hare won bronze in the 1500m in Zurich in 2014, replicating the feat at the 2015 European Indoors in Prague.

The Scot then raced to a silver medal in the 3,000m at the 2019 European Indoors in Glasgow.

After the race, O’Hare said: “With 200m to go I looked back and thought, ‘Right, I’ve got bronze, just give it everything’. It took me a lot to get onto his shoulder but around the bend it (the crowd) erupted and it kind of like picks you up and chucks you towards the line.”

He also represented Great Britain in the 2016 Olympic Games over a 1500m distance.

After progressing from the heats, he finished eleventh in his semi-final.

O’Hare, now based in America with his wife and three children, is the Scottish male indoor mile record holder with a time of three minutes, 52.91 seconds at the Millrose Games in New York in 2016.

He has clocked 25 sub-four minute miles – eight more than any other Scottish athlete.

The Borderer calls time on his career after having surgery 14 months ago on a hip injury.