The 27-year-old is set to begin a 12-week training course later this month, ruling out the possibility of defending the men's double scull title he won at London 2012 with partner Nathan Cohen.

Cohen had already been forced to quit the sport in December after pulling out of last year's World Championships in Chungju, South Korea, with a heart problem.

Following the triumph in Eton Dorney, Sullivan has struggled to hold down a place in the New Zealand squad over the past two years missing out on a number of World Cups, as well as ruling himself out of the World Championships last year.

But he revealed that he had regained his hunger late last year and was determined to try and go to Rio 2016 and defend his Olympic gold.

After being overlooked again by Rowing New Zealand for the international squad for 2014, however, he decided to take hang up the oars for good.

Speaking to the Waikato Times, Sullivan revealed he was disappointed at having to make the decision to retire and suggested that a lack of faith shown in him by Rowing New Zealand was one of the main factors leading to a change of career.

Joseph Sullivan and Nathan Cohen (left) reached the ultimate goal by claiming Olympic gold at London 2012 ©AFP/Getty Images




"I guess the fact that Nathan and me as a crew split, there wasn't the confidence in me on my own," he said.

"Then there was a breakdown in 2013, when I was told I could have a break through until January and that kind [of] disappeared and I was expected back in November.

"But I guess the hurdles and having to try and prove myself again wasn't really where I thought I should be.

"I had a final meeting with selectors over the weekend and I couldn't see that anything was going to change in the immediate future.

"I thought that there'd be a lot more trust - I had a pretty good track record.

"I had the motivation back after deciding not to go to Korea last year.

"I took some time off and found a whole new drive and motivation and was really focused on getting to Rio.

"I felt I was where I needed to be.

"It probably wasn't where I needed to be.

"I did kind [of] feel like it was different situations for different people.

"And I think that's probably the thing I'm most disappointed in."

London 2012 gold medallist Joseph Sullivan claimed he is disappointed in the lack of faith shown in him by Rowing New Zealand ©Getty Images



Sullivan added he had no regrets looking back and was "stoked" with what he achieved in his career which, along with an Olympic gold in London, also includes three Under-23 world titles as well as back-to-back World Championship wins with Nathan Cohen in 2010 and 2011.

"I've got no regrets with what I've done," he insisted.

"I've had to work hard - I've been knocked down plenty of times and overcome that, got through and really proved myself.

"Not to anyone else, but more to myself.

"The dream that I had, no one was going to stop me."

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December 2013: Heart problems force London 2012 Olympic champion Cohen to retire from rowing at age of 27