Today, Chinese sprint legend Su Bingtian officially announced his retirement on social media, posting under the title "My Twenty-One Years on the Track".

In just over 500 words he recounts the journey and trials from 2004 to 2025. His 9.83 seconds is more than a number; it is a beam of light that illuminates the path forward for more young Chinese sprinters.

My Twenty-One Years on the Track

The moment I lifted my spikes, I knew it was time to bring this long chapter of running to a close.

Twenty-one years feel like a single race from the start line to the finish. Looking back at that 100-meter track, every footprint is marked by sweat, tears, regrets and glory. My heart is full of mixed emotions, but above all gratitude. The story began on December 9, 2004, when a 15-year-old, inexperienced boy left his parents and home for the first time. Back then I didn't know the track would be the bond of my life.

My professional career was not all smooth sailing. Facing technical bottlenecks, the mental battles before big competitions, and the torment of injuries, my body, muscles and joints—my waist and legs—were my silent "comrades" but also my most painful "enemies." I also remember falling into self-doubt because of fluctuations in form. That ten-second "barrier for Asians" stood like an invisible hurdle across the path of every sprinter in Asia.

9.83 seconds is more than just a number; it's a medal for me and my team, proof that "anything is possible", and a beam of light I hope will illuminate the path for more young Chinese sprinters, helping them believe that limits are meant to be broken.

These days my body has already told me that it's time to step away as a competing athlete. Watching them continue to sprint down the path of Chinese sprinting fills me with immense satisfaction and pride.

Finally, I want to thank my country for giving me the stage to realize my dreams; thanks to the Chinese Athletics Association, Guangdong Ersha Training Center, Jinan University, Coach Yang Yongqiang, Coach Ning Debao, Coach Yuan Guoqiang, and Randy Huntington. To everyone who supported me, criticized me, and followed me — and of course to my family and children — your cheers have become the strongest, most powerful wind at my back, pushing me ever forward.

Goodbye, my dearest track — you witnessed my youth and sculpted and honed my will. In the future I will continue to walk with you in another way.