Su Bingtian Reflects on Possible Retirement After Struggles in 100m Race

Su Bingtian's Journey in Sprinting

Su Bingtian, the pioneering Asian sprinter who first broke the 10-second barrier, has hinted that he might have just completed his final 100-meter race. The 35-year-old athlete faced challenges during a recent domestic competition.

Originating from a farming family in Guangdong, Su made history by clocking an Asian record of 9.83 seconds at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He also became only the second Asian to compete in an Olympic 100-meter final, following Japan's Takayoshi Yoshioka in 1932.

Initially, Su planned to retire after participating in China's National Games this November. However, after recording a time of 10.49 seconds in the heats at last week's Grand Prix in Guangdong, he expressed doubts about his competitiveness.

He shared with local media, "The times for this race or any other 100m sprint in the upcoming months won’t vary significantly. I thought that if I performed well, I might continue, but if not, this could be my last race."

Su emphasized, "If I can no longer contribute positively to my team, there’s no point in continuing. I’ve committed to running until I can’t anymore, and I’ve reached that point. I’ve given my all and have no regrets about my career."

In addition to his individual achievements, Su played a crucial role in helping China secure fourth place in the 4x100 relay at the Tokyo Olympics. Following Britain's disqualification for doping, the team was awarded the bronze medal. He expressed a desire to assist Guangdong in winning the relay at the National Games.

Looking ahead, Su stated, "I will assess if I can still add value to the relay team. Even after retiring, I plan to remain involved in athletics, sharing the knowledge I've gained from years of high-level training and competition with Chinese athletics."