Gateshead, England (World Wide Gamble) - Allen Johnson, who won a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in the 100-meter hurdles, announced his retirement on Saturday.

Johnson, a four-time world champion, was a three-time gold medal winner in the 60-meter indoor hurdles. He was a seven-time USA Outdoor Champion in the 110m hurdles and the winner of the 1997 Jesse Owens Award.

"Allen Johnson is an inspiration for competition as lifelong pursuit," US Track and Field CEO Doug Logan said. "He embodies all the qualities you could ask for from a champion. Above all, he conducted himself with class, on and off the track. He won and lost with dignity, although clearly he won more than he lost. Allen set the standard for hurdling at the World and Olympic level and has inspired a generation of hurdlers, from the U.S. to Cuba to China, who continue to chase his achievements. That chase will continue for years to come."