The 35-year-old Mutola gets my vote as the greatest female 800-meter runner of all time.  It seems hard to believe, but it was 20 years ago when "The Maputo Express" made her Olympic debut at the 1988 Seoul Games. 

Maria would go on to compete in five more Olympic Games, with her greatest triumph coming at Sydney 2000, when she won Mozambique's first and only Olympic gold medal.  That set off huge celebrations in Maputo, and a road was even named after her in the Mozambican capital.

Mozambique's "Queen of the 800" has traveled many roads during her brilliant athletic career.  Those roads led her to world outdoor 800-meter gold medals in Stuttgart, Edmonton and Paris, as well as a record seven gold medals at the world indoor championships.  Let's also not forget Mutola's two Commonwealth Games titles; three All Africa Games gold medals; and five African Championship trophies.

Maria says in retirement, she plans to focus on her foundation, which aims to help Mozambican children to take up athletics.

One of my big sporting thrills was getting the chance to meet Maria Mutola at the 2001 IAAF World Championships in Edmonton, Canada, where she won the gold medal.  I've also talked with Maria on the telephone at her training base in Johannesburg.  She is a true African sports ambassador, and we wish her the best in retirement.