The 49-year-old took gold in the 470 class at both her home Olympics in Barcelona in 1992 and four years later in Atlanta in 1996, the last occasion on which the Summer Games was staged in the United States.

The Spanish capital ultimately lost out to Tokyo in a hard-fought contest for the 2020 Games, in what was its third-consecutive attempt to land world sport's biggest prize.

Zabell is expected to retain her links to sport.

Alejandro Blanco, President of the Spanish Olympic Committee, thanked the Ipswich-born athlete for her dedication during her time working at the national body and wished her well for the future.

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