OLYMPIC gold medallist Mary Peters has promised to take it easier after she celebrates her eightieth birthday.
Lady Mary, who won the pentathlon at the Munich Olympics in 1972, turns 80 today.
She has spent the last half-century raising money for good causes and now heads the Mary Peters Trust, which provides financial support to young athletes.
It is aiming to raise £1 million so athletes continue to benefit as a legacy after her death.
"I have been fundraising since I won my medal, which was 47 years ago, I think it is time for me," she said.
"I have neglected my friends over the years, I have other ideas of travel that I would like to do and I would just like to be able to sit down some days in my sun room and chill."
Now, she walks four miles most days, works in her large garden and also does patchwork quilting.
For her birthday she plans to have a low-key celebration with her family.
"I am not going to be idle but I want more time for me," she added.
"And I won't neglect the Trust because it has helped so many and will in the future.
"And that is what the million pounds was about, a legacy so that when I am no longer here they will invest that money and young people will continue for years to come to benefit."
Lady Mary was the only track athlete to win gold for Britain and Northern Ireland in Munich, but celebrations were tempered by the kidnapping of Israeli athletes by Palestinian paramilitary group Black September.
She recalled the authorities had not expected any violence and wanted to show Germany in a good light so security was not as tight as it should have been.
"They have had to live with it for all those years since, I have been back a number of times and they don't want to talk about Munich because of the tragedy," she said.
She was threatened with being shot should she return to the north from Munich; but paraded down the main street of Belfast in triumph.
"In my mind there was no question I was coming home and it just put a dampener on the whole event, but for the Israelis it was tragic."
