Japanese hammer thrower Murofushi retires after missing Rio berth

Koji Murofushi of Japan competes in the men's hammer throw qualifying round during the IAAF World Athletics Championships at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow August 10, 2013. REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler

(Reuters) - Japanese hammer thrower Koji Murofushi has announced his retirement from the sport, two weeks after he missed out on a place at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Murofushi, who won gold in the 2004 Athens Games and bronze in London four years ago, came out of a two-year retirement to make his bid for selection but could not meet the qualifying mark of 77 metres while finishing 12th at the Japan national championships.