Basketball star Yao Ming announced his retirement on July 20th of 2011 after a great career that made him China's best­known athlete and helped improve the game's global growth. The 2.26m star said，“Today I announce a personal decision.I'm officially retiring and ending my career as a basketball player.The retirement means one door has been closed for me，but a new one has opened to a whole new life outside for me to enjoy.Though I'll leave the sporting arena(竞技场)，I'm not leaving basketball.”