BEIJING - CHINA'S Guo Jingjing, the most successful female athlete in Olympic diving, has decided to retire, local media reported on Sunday.

The 30-year-old, who won four Olympic gold medals and numerous world titles, had submitted an application announcing her retirement, the Xinhua news agency reported quoting a Chinese website.

'She already made it clear that she would not train and compete, so she will not appear in the London Games,' China's diving team leader Zhou Jihong was quoted as saying.

'She is out of the national team. We respect her decision.' Guo previously announced retirement plans in 2006 saying she would quit after the Beijing Olympics two years later, only to return to win the three-metre springboard and synchronised springboard titles at the 2009 World Championship.

She has not competed since winning her fifth title in the 2009 National Games and was not selected for the Asian Games in Guangzhou in November last year.