It was a timely gesture.

The sport aerobics star is preparing to close one door in her illustrious career and open another.

Farry has just returned from the American National Aerobics Championships in Miami Beach, Florida, where she was victorious for the second successive year.

She plans to defend her Federation of International Sport Aerobics and Fitness (FISAF) world crown in Prague in October before retiring from singles competition.

"Although I'm still young I'm one victory away from winning every major title twice," Farry said.

"I don't want to be one of those competitors that everyone else wishes would hurry up and retire."

The Seven Hills girl plans to transfer her dominance to mixed pairs competition next year.

She hopes to establish a new reign with Queensland's Anthony Ikin.

The world men's bronze medallist is the brother of Brisbane Broncos five-eighth Ben Ikin and a long-time friend of Farry's.

"We've done workshops and been on national teams together in the past: we're great friends," she said.

"It represents a new challenge for me. I'm satisfied this singles routine is the best I can deliver, I've put everything into it."

Farry will perform her current routine one last time in the Czech Republic and then return home for a deserved break.

However, it is a tragedy that a multiple world champion cannot reside permanently in her country of birth.

The community of Blacktown and its council may have embraced her, but unfortunately corporate Australia has not.

The highly marketable athlete is resigned to living in the Ukraine for at least part of 2004.

"I've got citizenship over there now, so I can go back and work any time," she said. "There are so many great