Powrie and her partner Jo Aleh first sailed together in the women’s 470 event in 2009, and went on to claim gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games before adding a silver to their tally at Rio 2016.

The pair are also former 470 world champions and in 2013 were named as World Sailing's female sailors of the year. 

However, Powrie has now revealed she has recently decided not to commit to another Olympic campaign.

It brings to an end a partnership which was known as "Team Jolly". 

"I have been mulling it over for the last few months," she said.

"Jo and I have been sailing together for eight years and achieved possibly everything we could have.

"I had to ask the question: 'was I excited about going again and did I still feel like there was a challenge to achieve?’

"I also had to take family into consideration and decided it was time to move on and experience different things and challenge myself in different ways."

Powrie was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2013 New Year's honours list for her services to sailing.

Meanwhile, Aleh confirmed she will take a year off from sailing in the 470 as she hopes to compete in the next Volvo Ocean Race, which starts in September.

"I had a great eight years with Polly," said Aleh, who was elected to World Sailing's Athletes' Commission last year.

"I know her so well, so it's a bit sad it's over but I support whatever she wants to do.

"We spoke about it after the Games.

"She wasn't sure if she was going to continue and I wasn't sure either.

"I'm hoping to get into the Volvo and see if I can make that step into a different part of sailing.

"I'm fully open to the idea of putting another campaign together for the Tokyo Olympics and I had planned to do it with Polly but I want to do some other things in the meantime to keep me interested."