Mengke Bateer, the first Chinese player on an NBA championship-winning team, is retiring from basketball.

首位获得NBA总冠军的中国篮球运动员孟克·巴特尔宣布退役，结束了篮球生涯。

Bateer said on Tuesday he is bowing out because of health issues but aims to continue inspiring youngsters through a youth training program.

周二，巴特尔宣布由于健康问题选择退役，但他仍将继续通过青训体系培养下一代篮球人才。

He rose from being a shepherd boy on the grasslands¹ of the Inner Mongolia autonomous² region to become one of the most accomplished³ Chinese basketball stars.

他从内蒙古自治区草原上的模样男孩成长为中国最成功的篮球巨星之一。

Bateer's life has been changed significantly by the sport, and he's now ready to pass his experience on to the next generation through a joint youth development initiative with legendary⁴ NBA center Hakeem Olajuwon.

巴特尔的人生因为体育发生了翻天覆地的变化，现在，他将同NBA传奇巨星阿基姆·奥拉朱旺一道，建立青年发展项目，将自己的经历传授给下一代。

"It's really emotional to bid farewell to the game that I've played for almost 30 years," Bateer said with tears in his eyes at a ceremony in Beijing to announce his retirement⁵.

“真的很难对自己从事了近30年的篮球运动说再见。”巴特尔在北京举行的退役宣布仪式上含泪说道。

"But I'm viewing it as both a happy ending as well as a new start because I will be able to join hands with my idol⁶ to continue working in the sport off the court.

“但我将此视为篮球生涯圆满的结束，同时还是一个新的开始，我将和自己的偶像一起，继续在球场之外为这项运动做贡献。

"I won't leave the sport after retiring, and I hope more youngsters can fulfill⁷ their dreams through basketball like I did," said the 39-year-old who was born to an ethnic⁸ minority family in Inner Mongolia.

“退役之后，我不会放下这项运动的，我希望更多的青少年能够像我一样，通过篮球来实现自己的梦想。”现年39岁的巴特尔出生在内蒙古的一个少数民族家庭。

Tuesday's farewell announcement was attended by Olajuwon.

奥拉朱旺也出席了周二的告别仪式。

Rising to stardom after joining the NBA's Denver Nuggets in 2001, the 2.1-meter center became the first Chinese to start an NBA game with the Nuggets during the 2001-02 regular season.

2001年，身高2.1米的巴特尔加盟NBA，效力于丹佛掘金队，司职中锋，在2001-02赛季成为第一位在NBA首发登场的中国球员，此后便开启了巨星之路。

He then won a championship ring with the San Antonio Spurs the next season after being traded to the team in the summer of 2002.

第二个赛季，他被交易到圣安东尼奥马刺队，并于2002年随队获得一枚总冠军戒指。

In the early 2000s, US media called Bateer along with Wang Zhizhi - the first Chinese to play in the NBA - and eight-time All Star Yao Ming the "Walking Great Wall" but only Bateer made it to the finals.

本世纪初的几年里，美国媒体将巴特尔、中国NBA第一人王治郅和八次入选全明星阵容的姚明合称为“移动长城”，而只有巴特尔一人获得了总冠军。

Despite the limited playing time on court, "the season I spent with the Spurs was the most rewarding spell in my career as the team spirit and the work ethic⁹ there inspired me a lot", said Bateer, who returned to play in the Chinese Basketball Association in 2005.

尽管上场时间不多，但巴特尔2005年回归CBA时称：“我在马刺对过的那个赛季是职业生涯中最有意义，对马刺的团队精神和职业道德我深有体会。”

Considered one of the most dominant¹⁰ centers in the CBA with the Beijing Ducks (1997-2002) and Xinjiang Flying Tigers (2007-13), Bateer never won a domestic league title.

虽然作为CBA最具统治力的中锋之一，他在北京首钢队(1997-2002)和新疆广汇飞虎队(2007-13)都未曾获得过国内联赛冠军。