Havana, June 25 (RHC)-- U.S. pole vaulter Jenn Suhr announced her retirement from active sports at the age of 40. 

"Words will come back to me soon, but my heart and soul are ready for the next phase of my life," explained the London 2012 Olympic pole vault champion in a message on social networks.

Suhr was also a silver medalist at the 2008 Beijing Games, second at the 2013 Moscow World Championships and the 2016 Portland indoor champion.

The American still holds the highest indoor jump in history, with a mark of 5.02 meters achieved at the 2013 U.S. championships.

This week the pole vaulter tried unsuccessfully to qualify for the World Athletics Championships to be held in Eugene next month.

U.S. pole vaulter Jenn Suhr announced her retirement from active sport at the age of 40.