Luxembourg athlete Charel Grethen has announced his retirement from professional running, with the World Championships in Tokyo serving as his final competition.

Luxembourgish middle-distance runner Charel Grethen has announced his retirement from professional athletics, declaring the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo will be the final competition of his career.

The announcement was made at a press conference held by CAL-SPORA Luxembourg (CSL) at the Stade Josy Barthel on Wednesday morning.

The 33-year-old, who was presenting his participation in the championships alongside teammates Ruben Querinjean and Sweden's Nora Lindahl, will conclude a distinguished career that includes three World Championships and two Olympic appearances.

His career peak came four years ago at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where he reached the 1,500-metre final. That achievement earned him the title of Luxembourgish Sportsman of the Year in 2021.

Grethen's career highlights include:

  • Competing in the 800 metres at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
  • A 5th place finish in the 1,500-metre final at the 2017 Universiade in Taipei.
  • A 5th place finish in the 3,000-metre indoor final at the 2023 European Championships in Istanbul.

He also holds four national records in the indoor 1,500m and 3,000m, and the outdoor 1,500m and mile events.

LëtzMile – The Luxembourg City Road Mile

In a related announcement, CSL revealed plans for the LëtzMile – The Luxembourg City Road Mile event on 27 September. To mark the organisation’s 25th anniversary, Avenue de la Liberté will be transformed into a running track for eight different race categories. The event will also serve as Grethen's final elite-level race against international competition, concluding his 27-year involvement in the sport.