Retirement the day Lewis treasures most

By Paul Majendie

BEIJING (Reuters) - Carl Lewis won nine gold medals as one of the greatest Olympians of the 20th century but the day he treasures most in his career was the day he retired.

"In Atlanta I won the gold medal in the long jump and I remember stepping off the podium and really the desire to compete was gone," he told Reuters.

"Retirement was easy because it was my time," he said. "I give a strange answer to the question what was my most special day -- it was the day I retired."

"When I wanted to retire I was so ready. I could look back on my career and say, God, it was 10 times more than I ever imagined and it was okay to move on to the next level."

Lewis once shared the record for most successful Olympian with U.S. swimmer Mark Spitz, Finnish distance runner Paavo Nurmi and Russian gymnast Larysa Latynina.

But that record tumbled in Beijing to U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps and Lewis is not one for nostalgia. He has not been near the Bird's Nest stadium, home of the Beijing athletics event.

"My time is over. When I watch a race or a performance, it has nothing to do with what I did. I just live in the now when it comes to sports," he said.

When pressed over his favorite gold medal, Lewis would always pick the one stripped from drug cheat Ben Johnson after the 100 meters in Seoul because it gave the message to the world "I decided not to cheat".

While he was handing out achievement awards to kids at the elegant lakeside USA House at the Beijing Games, much of the buzz was about Jamaican Usain Bolt who had just completed the 100m-200m double last landed by Lewis at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.

The 47-year-old American was reluctant to talk about Bolt's double world record achievement, staying firmly on message for his sponsors.

"I don't know him, I have never met him, I have only seen him run one time and I really can't comment on him and plus I am a Nike guy and I don't cross lines," he said. Bolt is sponsored by sportswear manufacturer Puma.

Asked about his reaction to the 200m which he only viewed later on a recording, he said: "It was an amazing race. That's all I can say about it."

(editing by Jon Bramley)