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MONTREAL -- Alexandre Despatie may have already begun thinking about ending his medal-filled career after he cracked his head on the diving board before last summers Olympics. The injury sidelined the three-time world diving champion for most of the crucial run-up to the Games. He eventually finished 11th in the three-metre springboard. Despatie announced his retirement Tuesday after an illustrious career that saw him burst on to the international scene as a 13-year-old phenomenon when he won gold in the 10-metre event at the 1998 Commonwealth Games. He told a news conference in Montreal on Tuesday that his objective after London and "a turbulent 2012" was to keep diving for one year. But Despatie underwent surgery to correct bursitis and tendinitis in his left knee last October. He then had additional surgery a few weeks later. "I guess in the process circumstances were becoming more and more clear that it was going to be really difficult and demanding for me to dive this year," he said. Despatie added it was like a weight being lifted off his shoulders when he finally decided to call it quits. "Its not a forced decision," said Despatie, who turns 28 this Saturday. "There was a lot of thought behind it, but Im ready to move forward." His father Pierre said there were ongoing family discussions after the London Olympics about the possibility of retirement. "But we didnt know when," he said. "We knew he wanted to do an extra year, so it was just delaying the process." Despaties father said his son knew he wouldnt be in top shape and ready for the 2013 world championships in Barcelona in mid-July. "Hes not the type of person who just wants to show up at an event -- he wanted to show up to win the event," he said. The younger Despatie said the most important thing in his career was his passion. "To be the best that I could ever be was my motto," he said. "To work as hard as I could to get where I want to be was what I did." Despaties older sister, Anouk, said what made her the proudest was her brothers perseverance. "When we were young, we went diving together and he persevered all along his career during the ups and downs," she said in an interview. "He always wanted to be the best and finally he succeeded." But his 30-year-old sister also admitted she was a bit jealous when she was younger because her brother was getting a lot of attention. "That was when I was young and when youre little you also need some attention," Anouk Despatie said. "But today thats not a problem at all." The next step for Despatie is to pursue his longtime dream of a career in television. "Its important to have dreams, to have other goals after being an athlete," Despatie said. "And lucky for me those dreams were born a long time ago." Despatie has already had some exposure to the big screen. He starred as himself in a 2007 French teen romantic comedy entitled: "On Your Marks: Party!" Despatie, who began diving at home as a five-year-old, also thanked all the people and organizations that helped him during his career, including trainers, the Canadian Olympic Committee and Diving Canada. "Thank you for believing in me," he said. "To all my friends, thank you for your understanding. To my family, mom, dad, thank you for your unconditional support." Despatie is the only diver to have won world championships in all three of the one-metre, three-metre and 10-metre events. He was also a silver medallist on the three-metre springboard at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games. Lebron James Sneakers Wholesale . Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturdays "UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson" event at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil. The fight served as a rematch of the pairs 2006 meeting, which Henderson won by decision. 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Philadelphia was handed a 6-3 loss by the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday afternoon before dropping a 4-1 decision to the Rangers the following night in New York City. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- No. 6 Wisconsin did everything it could to get back in the College Football Playoff chase Saturday.Its probably going to take more than a blowout at Purdue.T.J. Watt returned an interception 17 yards for a touchdown, and the Badgers scored 35 points in the final 8 1/2 minutes of the first half of a 49-20 victory against the lowly Boilermakers.Now comes the hard part: Figuring out if Wisconsin belongs in college footballs Final Four.When we looked at our schedule, we thought that there wasnt one that we couldnt win, quarterback Alex Hornibrook said. We thought we would win every one of them. We did a good job focusing from week to week.To have any chance, the Badgers must keep winning. Wisconsin (9-2, 6-2, No. 7 CFP) has won five straight and can clinch the Big Tens West Division title with a win next weekend.Two more victories, and the Badgers would be right in the mix. But to pull that off, they are going to need a better start than they had against Purdue, when they were hampered by a stagnant ground game, ineffective passing attack and struggling defense.Then coach Paul Chryst inserted fifth-year senior Bart Houston at QB, and everything changed. The opening-day starter immediately led Wisconsin on an 87-yard drive that ended with Alec Ingolds 1-yard plunge for a 7-3 lead. Watt picked off David Blough on the next offensive play.Bradrick Shaw scored on a 7-yard run with 3:03 left in the half. After another Blough interception, Houston hooked up with a wide-open Ingold on a 19-yard TD pass and Shaw added a 33-yard TD run in the last minute of the half.All the Boilermakers (3-8, 1-7) mustered during the stretch was a 75-yard TD pass from Blough to DeAngelo Yancey.I have to do my job, Blough said. I cant do my job just half the time. The turnovers hurt. We cant turn it over and expect to be in the game against one of the top teams in the country. With those two interceptions, it was one big joke with one batted ball and then another batted ball.Corey Clement rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown for Wisconsin.THE TAKEAWAYWisconsin: The Badgers didnt gget the help they needed to wrap up the West, but the win certainly keeps their playoff hopes alive.ddddddddddddPurdue: Theres one week to go in the Boilermakers dismal season. But 18 players and probably most, if not all, of the coaching staff said goodbye to Ross-Ade Stadium in front of a scant crowd.T.J.S SWATSWisconsin linebackers Watt and T.J. Edwards took turns celebrating. In the first half, both deflected Blough passes, came down with the ball and each turnover led to a touchdown. On Purdues opening possession of the second half, Edwards and Watt also came up with sacks of Blough.What a play by T.J. (Watt), Badgers coach Paul Chryst said. To knock it down is a really good play. To get a pick is a really good play. To do both that changed (the game).KEY NUMBERSWisconsin: The Badgers entered with 14 interceptions and padded that total with three more in the first half, giving them seven in the past two weeks. ... Wisconsin has produced a 100-yard rusher in six straight games. ... The defense has allowed only five touchdowns in five road games this season. ... Clement became the 17th rusher in school history to top the 1,000-yard mark. ... Houston was 5 of 6 for 102 yards with one TD, and Hornibrook was 7 of 9 for 89 yards with one TD pass.Purdue: Blough was 14 of 30 for 206 yards with two TDs. Yancey caught six passes for 155 yards and two scores. ... After being outscored 114-17 in the second halves of the past four games, the Boilermakers had only a 14-10 deficit in the final 30 minutes Saturday. ... Defensive lineman Jake Replogle returned from a concussion to play in his home finale.UP NEXTWisconsin: Will try to keep the Paul Bunyan Axe for a 13th consecutive year when it hosts Minnesota.Purdue: Hopes to snap a three-game losing streak against rival Indiana. The Boilermakers havent lost the Old Oaken Bucket in four straight years since the 1940s.---For more college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '