RIO DE JANEIRO -- Fabian Cancellara couldnt imagine competing at the highest level of cycling another eight years, which is how long it would take him to match American rider Kristin Armstrongs longevity.No, definitely not, the Swiss rider said. I mean, 35 or 44 or whatever age you have, its everyones own choice how long you want to continue.The answer for both of them is no more.The 35-year-old Cancellara confirmed he is sticking with his plan to retire this season after winning the gold medal in the Olympic time trial. And Armstrong also said she was content with her place in the sport after grabbing her third-consecutive time trial gold on Wednesday, the eve of her 43rd birthday.Any athlete would like to keep coming back, but there does come a point where you wont be able to perform at that level any longer, she said. Ive probably pushed it to the maximum level.Ask any athlete how he or she wants to go out and chances are youll hear: On top. Still, far too many cling to the spotlight too long, their skills diminished and ability eroded by the constant churning of time.Yet the Olympics are one place where athletes historically step away at their peak. For one thing, its the worlds biggest sporting stage. More practically, many athletes cant imagine going through four more years of the training, injuries, travel and competition that come with working toward the quadrennial extravaganza.American swimmer Mark Spitz retired at 22 after capturing a then-record seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Eight years later, Mike Eruzione led the United States hockey team to its Miracle on Ice gold-medal upset over the Soviet Union at Lake Placid, then decided to retire when he realized he could never match what he accomplished that winter.A combination of factors pushed Cancellara and Armstrong to retire.Sure, Cancellaras age was a consideration, but the Swiss cyclist also had other priorities. The amount of time he has dedicated to training over 16 years as a professional is mind-numbing, the commitment to eating right and recovering properly draining.He has a wife and two daughters, and wants to see all of them more.Two gold medals, the silver medal, and especially this gold medal in the last days and weeks of my life as a sports athlete makes me very proud, he said, and closing my history as an athlete like this, yeah, its more than anything I thought possible.Armstrong said age came into play, too, noting it took two full days of cold baths, massage and recovery following Sundays road race to be ready for the time trial. It didnt always used to be that hard.But she also has a life at home in Boise, Idaho, that beckons her. Five-year-old son Lucas was at the finish line along the Brazilian coast to greet his mom on Wednesday, and Armstrong enjoys doting on him too much to spend so much time away. Shes also the director of community health at a hospital, and wants to spend more time doing the kind of outreach that truly drives her these days.Ill go back home and everyone will be super excited, my super fans, Armstrong said, and Ill go on with my legacy -- being to help improve the health of people in Idaho.Both riders acknowledged they will never be able to fully divorce themselves from the sport, and their accomplishments make that virtually impossible. Cancellara is recognized not just in Switzerland but across Europe. He is one of the most popular riders of his generation, the powerhouse known as Spartacus.And every time Armstrong goes to an Albertsons grocery store back in Boise, an in-and-out trip to grab milk and eggs turns into an hourlong odyssey. People want to stop and chitchat, and Armstrong has a hard time saying no -- especially to the kids.My husband will be like, `Where did you really go? Armstrong said. I spend time with people in my community, and thats what Im grateful for. One of the things I cant wait for is my next school visit and to talk to kids and show them my gold medal. I cant wait. Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Store . Fernandez, coached in Toronto by former two-time Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser, scored 267.11 points and is the first champion to successfully defend since Russias Evgeny Plushenko in 2005 and 2006. Wholesale Soccer Jerseys . Dusautoir, the former World Player of the Year, sustained a torn bicep playing for Toulouse in the Heineken Cup on Saturday. The flanker, who has played 65 times for France, is expected to be out for up to four months. http://www.cheapsoccerjerseys.co/ . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career. Soccer Jerseys For Sale . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Cheap Soccer Jerseys Free Shipping . Detroit and Boston are deadlocked, 1-1, and Tigers manager Jim Leyland could be forgiven if he was caught rationalizing instead of dissecting how his club could blow a 5-1 lead late in Game 2.PHILADELPHIA -- Steve Mason was about to tee off on the back nine when Brayden Schenn interrupted with a breaking report. "Have you heard the news," Schenn asked. A puzzled Mason had no clue what Schenn was about to spill: Ilya Bryzgalov had his contract bought out by the Philadelphia Flyers. When it comes to Flyers goaltenders, Mason is suddenly the leader in the clubhouse. Mason finished his round with a solid day on the course and the realization that he is, for now, Philadelphias No. 1 goalie entering next season. Sure, his solid month as a Flyer after he was acquired from Columbus merited a deeper look from the organization. But the Flyers mostly wanted to get rid of the flaky Russian who never performed up to the $51 million, nine-year deal he signed in 2011. Mason has the chance to prove hes more the goalie who was the NHLs rookie of the year in 2008-09 and not the one who posted a goals-against average of 3-plus each of the next three seasons. "Im prepared to be the No. 1 guy," Mason said by phone from Toronto. "I feel Ive come a long way in the last few years in the growing-up process of being a goaltender in the NHL." Mason had it all figured out when he went 33-20-7 with 10 shutouts and won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 2008-09, the only season the Blue Jackets have made the playoffs. But Mason and Columbus could never recapture that fleeting success again. He fell to 20 wins and five shutouts the next season, and hasnt had a winning record since he was a rookie. He bottomed out in 2011-12 with a 16-26-3 mark. Mason lost his job to eventual Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky, a former flyer, and was traded away by Columbus in April. He called the last few years "extremely humbling." "You almost hit rock bottom in terms of the way you feel about yourself as a goaltender," Mason said. "It got to the point in Columbus where I was struggling to find my confidence and also, struggling to come to the rink happy about playing hockey." Only 25, Mason appreciated a fresh start in Philadelphia. He instantly bonded with goalie coach Jeff Reesse, and a 4-2 record with a 1.dddddddddddd90 goals-against made him a hit with his teammates and management. He signed a $1.5 million, one-year extension shortly after the trade. "Im a big Steve Mason fan," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said. "I know theres a short window that we got to watch him here, but he played very well. Even the game he lost, he played well." Holmgren has to add another goalie to play with Mason. But he expected the bulk of the playing time to be thrust on Mason. The Flyers went 23-22-3 and were 10th in the Eastern Conference with 49 points in this lockout-shortened season. "I looked at coming to Philadelphia as a great new challenge," Mason said. "Regardless of the length of Bryzs contract, I was confident that if I played well, I was going to get an opportunity to play a lot of hockey games." Theres been a revolving door in net for Philadelphia for decades. They Flyers -- and their fans -- thought that was solved with Bryzgalovs arrival. Perhaps Mason can finally take that honour. "I was going to prepare myself this summer," Mason said, "to have the mindset of being able to handle the pressures of playing in Philadelphia and the pressures of being a No. 1 goaltender again in this league." Bryzgalov was 52-33-10 with a 2.61 goals-against and a .905 save percentage in the two seasons for Philadelphia, which failed to make the playoffs this year. Bryzgalovs quirky personality and sometimes brutal honesty with the media didnt always endear him to teammates. But the Flyers say that didnt factor into this decision. Coach Peter Laviolette and Holmgren have each checked in with Mason this summer, though not since the trade. "It was an extremely easy team to come into," Mason said. "and feel welcomed." Example? Mason was invited along with captain Claude Giroux and other Flyers to play in Scott Hartnells charity golf tournament in Canada. Thats when word hit that Bryz was out -- and Mason was in. "It wasnt a celebration," Mason said. "It was, heres an opportunity and go with it." ' ' '