The 30-year-old from Asahikawa will become a coach for the Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance judo team.

Ueno claimed back-to-back world titles in the under-63 kilogram category at Rotterdam in 2009 and Tokyo 2010.

She also won a silver medal at Paris in 2011 and an Olympic bronze medal in London last year. 

Yoshie Ueno won a bronze medal at London 2012 but did not think she could carry on until Rio 2016 @Getty Images

But the prospect of trying to improve on that performance at Rio 2016 was not enough to motivate Ueno.

"It was tough not being able to win a gold in London, and I just didn't think I could last another four years," Ueno said.

"I hope the students I coach end up winning gold."

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