Donna Kellogg DONNA Kellogg will today announce her retirement from international badminton, bringing down the curtain on a 12-year spell as an England and Great Britain international.

At 31, triple-Olympian Kellogg bows out as the most successful badminton player Derbyshire has produced and at a time when she is still ranked in the top five mixed doubles partnerships in the world in a sport dominated by Far Eastern countries.

She feels the Olympic Games of 2012 in London would be a step too far at this stage and is happy to be leaving the sport while still at the top.

“This has been an extremely difficult decision and something I have thought about for a long, long time,” she told the Derby Telegraph.

“Every year, there are major championships, so there is always the temptation to continue.

“But I now feel I am tired of the structured lifestyle. To succeed, everything has to revolve around badminton, then there’s the constant travel, not really having a proper home and a niggling back problem which can make it less enjoyable. I think I have given it my all throughout my career to be the best player I can be – I feel weak if I don’t – and that can take its toll on you, mentally and physically.

“Now I’m looking forward to relaxing, taking the pressure off and taking some time to do what I want without the constant thought of a tournament just around the corner.”

There may be one last tournament for Kellogg, however, as she is expected to receive an invitation to play in the World Super Series Masters Finals in Malaysia from December 2-6.

She has played badminton for 20 years and retires after playing in three Olympic Games – in Sydney, Athens and Beijing – and with a clutch of titles and medals.

She is the reigning European mixed doubles champion with her playing partner of several years, Derby-born Anthony Clark, and has three European Championship gold medals in her collection, as well as a silver and a bronze.

On the three occasions she has represented England in the Commonwealth Games – in 1998, 2002 and 2006 – she has won two team gold medals and a silver, a women’s doubles gold medal with Joanne Goode and bronze medals in both mixed and women’s doubles.

Always a doubles specialist, she has a total of 11 English national titles, while on the World Grand Prix circuit of senior tournaments, the women’s doubles highlight of her career came in 2000, when she and Goode won the Indonesian Open. She matched that in 2006, winning the Danish Open with Clark. The pair have been runners-up in six other major tournaments over the last two years.

Although another Commonwealth Games beckoned next year, along with the chance to defend her European title, Kellogg feels that the time is right to move on.

With the vast majority of major tournaments staged in the Far East, the relentless travelling is certainly a factor.

“The travelling is now the hardest part for me to deal with,” she said.

“I never totally unpack my bags. I’ve seen different cultures and some amazing sights but at most tournaments you only see a hotel room, a gym and a badminton arena.”