"My health and age send a signal that even the most ambitious athlete must heed. I would have dearly liked to cap off a career nicely at the world championships, but real life is something else," Veerpalu was quoted as saying by the Estonian National Broadcaster on Wednesday.
Veerpalu won Olympic gold at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games and again in Torino four years later.
(Reporting by David Mardiste; Editing by John Mehaffey; To query or comment on this story emailsportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)