GB athlete Charlotte Ward announces retirement

Charlotte won her first British Sprint title in 2015, just in time to catapult her into the GB team and compete in a home World Championships in Inverness. Her debut 17th place in the individual sprint was the start of a highly successful career that saw her compete as a regular member of the GB team for nearly a decade, and it is fitting that her final international race was at another home World Championships, in Edinburgh just a few weeks ago.

Images: Charlotte at EOC 2023 (Rob Lines) and below at WOC 2024 (Rob Lines) and with her team mates Ralph Street, Kris Jones and Megan Carter-Davies at WOC 2022 (IOF / William Hollowell).

Announcing her retirement, Charlotte said: 

"It’s rarely an easy decision for an athlete to step back from competing on the World stage, but I feel that after 10 seasons of focusing my life on this sport, that it’s the right time for me now. 

My first World Championships was in Scotland in 2015. Back then, I wouldn’t have imagined I’d go on to compete in a total of five World Championships, three European Championships and numerous World Cup rounds. Ending my career at another home World Championships feels like a full circle moment.

My favourite discipline has always been the sprint relay, so to win a WOC medal in 2022 was an absolute dream come true. It’s incredible to share podium positions with teammates, and I’m immensely grateful and proud of all my teammates who have earned us top 6 spots in the past! I think GB can climb higher, and one day soon, we’ll have our four athletes standing on the top of the podium together.

It’s been a crazy journey, and I would like to thank every person who has helped me along the way; the list is far too long to write down here. I’m looking forward to some new adventures, but will remain a huge orienteering fan, and will be following the team all the way."

During her career, Charlotte achieved some fantastic individual sprint results, including top tens in the World Cup, Euromeeting and World University Championships. However, Charlotte’s real strength has been as a member of our Mixed Sprint Relay team, often running the highly-pressured first leg. In this discipline she has achieved multiple podium places at international races, with the highlights being a wonderful haul of medals: Bronze in the World Games, Silver at the World Championships, and Gold at the World University Championships!

Pippa Archer, Performance Manager of Team GB said: 

"Aside from being an outstanding athlete, Charlotte has always supported and inspired those around her and she has been a much-loved member of the team. She will be sorely missed, but her impact and influence on GB sprint orienteering will live on for many years. Thank you Charlotte, and good luck for your next ventures."