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Ada Li

China’s Su Bingtian, Asia’s fastest man, announced his retirement from athletics on Tuesday, saying his body had told him to “pass the baton”.
But Su said he had shown Chinese sprinters that “everything is possible” as he reflected on a career in which he was the first from his country to break the 10-second barrier for the 100 metres.
The breakthrough came when Su ran 9.99 seconds in 2015 at a Diamond League meet in Oregon, in the United States.
He also became the first Chinese man to reach an Olympic 100m final, running an Asian record time of 9.83 in his semi-final at the Games in Tokyo in 2021. Su finished sixth in the final before helping China to win bronze in the 4x100m relay.

Su’s career looked to be drawing to a close after he missed the Asian Games in 2023 then last year’s Paris Olympics.
At April’s National Athletics Grand Prix, in his home province of Guangdong – only his second 100m race since the 2022 World Championships – he failed to manage the qualifying time for November’s National Games and admitted: “I really can’t run any more.”
Announcing his decision on Chinese social media, the 36-year-old said his best of 9.83, still an Asian record, “is not just a number; it is a medal for me and my team”.
“It also proved that everything is possible; it is a light, lighting up the Chinese young sprinters’ dream, by telling them the limits are there to be broken,” Su said.
“The 10-second barrier for Asian sprinters was like an invisible hurdle standing in front of all of us.”
Su added: “My body has told me it is time to pass the baton to the younger generation ... My body, my muscles, my joints, my back and legs have been my comrades, but also my enemies.”
His final appearance came last month at the National Games, again in his native Guangdong, in the men’s 4x100m relay. His Guangdong team finished fourth, after which Su indicated he would not compete again.
“Goodbye, my dearest track,” Su said in his post. “I will walk with you in another way in the future.”


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Su Bingtian

Su Bingtian after running for Guangdong in the 4x100m relay final at the National Games in Guangzhou last month. Photo: Xinhua

Su Bingtian roars after his Asian-best run in the 100m semi-final at the Tokyo Olympics. Photo: Xinhua

Asia’s fastest man Su Bingtian hints at retirement: ‘I really can’t run any more’

China’s Su Bingtian following the men’s 100 metres final at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Photo: Xinhua

Guangdong’s Su Bingtian (second from left) in the men’s 100m Grand Prix preliminaries. Photo: Xinhua

Paris Olympics: why does Asia struggle to produce track stars? What needs to change?

China’s Su Bingtian made history in Tokyo when he became the first sprinter of non-African descent to enter the Olympics 100m finals since 1980. Photo: Xinhua

China’s Liu Xiang wins the 110m hurdles at the 2004 Games in a time that is still the Olympics record. Photo: Reuters

China has had more success at endurance events, most recently through 20km race walk winner Yang Jiayu (right) and 50km-walk world record holder Liu Hong. Photo: Xinhua

Dr Michael Tse. who represented Hong Kong in rowing at the 1996 Olympics, says talent identification is a weak spot in China. Photo: Thomas Yau

Sport

China

Also the first Chinese man to reach an Olympic 100m final, Su announces his retirement from track and field in a social media post


Also the first Chinese man to reach an Olympic 100m final, Su announces his retirement from track and field in a social media post.


Su Bingtian, first Chinese to run 100m under 10 seconds, says ‘goodbye, my dearest track’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Also the first Chinese man to reach an Olympic 100m final, Su announces his retirement from track and field in a social media post

Also the first Chinese man to reach an Olympic 100m final, Su announces his retirement from track and field in a social media post