Three-time Olympic medallist Katie Archibald has retired from cycling despite being selected for Scotland's 2026 Commonwealth Games team. The 32-year-old leaves as a world and European champion, holding the women's team pursuit world record. In December, she was named to Team Scotland's inaugural squad for the Glasgow Games.

Archibald cited a growing passion for nursing, stating, "The draw of the 'real world' has been pulling me for a while." She reflected on balancing her cycling legacy with a desire for stability, adding, "I've been too scared to leave the world I know and love." Her Instagram post emphasized gratitude toward coaches, teammates, and her late partner, Rab Wardell, who died in 2022. Archibald, who joined Britain's endurance squad at 19, amassed 51 medals across 13 years, including two Olympic golds and seven world titles. She called cycling her "dreamer" and "protagonist" journey, acknowledging missed opportunities due to injuries.

Now training as a nurse, she expressed, "I've fallen completely in love with the whole thing," highlighting her newfound purpose in a career where trust and care matter most. British Cycling's Stephen Park praised her "incredible legacy," calling her relentless pursuit of excellence unparalleled in track cycling history.