Michal Morvay announces retirement from professional race walking

Slovak race walker Michal Morvay has announced his retirement from professional and representative sports after a 15-year career. The 30-year-old athlete, a two-time Olympian, concluded his competitive journey following the European Championships in Birmingham.

Morvay described 2026 as the most difficult year of his life, noting that he attempted to maintain his elite performance while working two jobs without full professional support. Despite these challenges, he finished his final season as Slovakia's most successful race walker, setting two national records: 1:30:50 in the half marathon and 3:11:00 in the marathon.

His decision was influenced by changing disciplines in top-level walking and insufficient financial conditions for high-level preparation. Morvay previously represented Slovakia at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games and achieved his best international result with a 7th-place finish at the 2022 European Championships in Munich.