Tracey Ferguson represented Canada at seven Paralympic Games ©Getty Images

Canadian wheelchair basketball star Tracey Ferguson has announced her retirement from the national team, concluding a 26-year career.

Ferguson represented the country at seven Paralympic Games, securing three gold and one bronze medal in the sport.

She has also helped the national team to four world titles, as well as ending as bronze medallists on one further occasion.

“I have no words to express how truly grateful I am for the privilege of representing Canada as an athlete for the past 26 years,” said Ferguson.

“It is with mixed emotions that I am announcing my retirement from the Canadian national team.

“My career would never have been possible without the help of so many people that it is impossible to thank everyone personally in this letter.

“I hope that over the coming months, I am able to reach out to each of you, to let you know what an impact you made in helping me live my dreams.”

Ferguson was part of the Canadian team which secured three consecutive Paralympic gold medals, triumphing at Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000.

The team came up short four-years later when they were forced to settle for bronze at Athens 2004.

Three World Championship titles also came consecutively, with the Canadian team triumphing in 1994, 1998 and 2002.

Ferguson was part of the team who earned bronze at the Championships in 2010, before claiming a final gold medal in front of a home crowd in Toronto during 2014.

She would also secure silver medals at both the 2011 and 2015 Pan American Games, where the Canadian team suffered defeats to the United States in Guadalajara and Toronto respectively.

“Tracey is one of the most successful athletes in the history of the women’s programme and we congratulate her on all of her outstanding contributions and accomplishments in the game throughout her long and storied career with Team Canada,” said Wendy Gittens, Wheelchair Basketball Canada executive director.

“Her leadership and competitive spirit will be greatly missed on the basketball court and we wish her the very best in the future with whatever comes next.”