The 38-year-old, who has been dealing with a nagging back injury, announced his retirement in an interview for Delo.

"I have realised that I can not make it any more. I have given up in this fight," he admitted only weeks ahead of the World Gymnastic Championships in Glasgow.

This means that Petkovšek will not compete at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio in a bid to win the only medal that has eluded him during an illustrious career lasting nearly 20 years.

While he never won an Olympic medal, the specialist on parallel bars won world titles in 2005 and 2007, European titles in 2000, 2007 and 2008 and was World Cup champion in 2000 and 2004.

His total of 12 world championship, World Cup finals, and European championship medals means that he has more parallel bars titles at major competitions than any other gymnast.