ABERGAVENNY’s double track world champion and Olympic silver medallist Becky James has announced that she has retired, at the age of 25.

The Welsh athlete won the world sprint and keirin titles in 2013 and took silver at the same events at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

"I have had time to think about my future and have decided to retire from international track sprint racing," said Becky in a statement who says she now intents to

set up a business making speciality cakes.

The cyclist has been plagued by injuries during her career, and suffered a cancer scare in 2014 when she had an operation to remove abnormal cells following a cervical screening then suffered a knee injury before finally qualifying for Rio 2016.

She took a break after Rio, and told BBC Wales in July 2017 that she was excited about getting back into full training.

However, in a statement posted on her Twitter account on Wednesday, James said she was grateful for her success but that it was time to move on.

"After 13 years of racing my track bike, it is time to start an exciting new chapter in my life. I have given cycling 100% and know how much commitment it takes to make it to the highest level in elite sport," she said.

"The pressure of competing at the top can be mentally and physically draining, but the rewards have been incredible and I have absolutely no regrets!

"I have achieved my dreams of becoming a world champion, a Commonwealth medallist for Wales and becoming a double Olympic silver medallist.

"I now want to enjoy my life without the strict training regime, while at the same time continuing to lead a healthy lifestyle both in body and mind.

"For a long time I’ve had a passion for baking and have loved making special wedding and birthday cakes for friends and family ... and it’s my intention to now pursue this passion as a business, along with some exciting other projects going forward."One of Becky's major sponsors, Nigel Jones of Premium Dental Implants and Smiles Better in Abergavenny wished her luck for the future following the unexpected announcement."My wife Sarah and I would like to congratulate Becky James on her amazing career following her retirement from cycling," said Mr Jones." Becky has been a family friend of ours for years and we have been very proud to sponsor her." It’s been a pleasure supporting her and if nothing had come of it we would have still enjoyed it, but she’s repaid our faith in her 100 times over with her double world titles and double Olympic silver medals."Her character has brought her through some dark days and it’s just been an example of what you can achieve if you’re prepared to make sacrifices."Becky is one in three billion. Most of us can be better at what we do through sheer effort and Becky’s a great example of what you can achieve through effort and sacrifice and diligence, determination aside from her undoubted talent."She’s a winner and has gone through a lot over the past few years and to see all her hard work pay off at Rio last year made us immensely proud."Despite her success, she’s remained the same friendly girl who used to babysit for us all those years ago. With her support and encouragement, Sarah and I recently completed the Prudential London 100 raising £1,600 in memory of our Mums who both succumbed to Alzheimer’s," said Mr Jones."We wish her well in her new baking business and the other exciting projects she has lined up and we are sure she will be just as successful as she was on the track,' he added.