Have you ever seen anyone truly shock Usain Bolt in his own era? It happened at the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing. While Bolt still won the 100m final, he looked genuinely surprised as one man threatened to match his blistering pace stride for stride. That man was Su Bingtian, the fastest Asian sprinter of all time. Years later, he etched his name into history at the Tokyo Olympics, clocking a sensational 9.83 in the semifinals and redefining Asian sprinting forever. Now, after decades of relentless dedication, the trailblazer has finally decided to hang up his spikes, concluding his amazing career.

Now 36, the athlete competed before 43,924 spectators at the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center during the 15th National Games in the 4x100m relay. “I didn’t want to leave quietly without a proper goodbye,” Su told the crowd. “Here in my hometown, with a full stadium, I’m honored to say farewell.” Reflecting on his career, he stated, “From a clueless kid to racing on the world stage, step by step, I broke the 10-second barrier and reached the Olympic 100-meter final. Only persistence makes dreams come true.”

He might have retired from his professional career, but that doesn’t mean he is leaving the sport altogether. In the end, the athlete reminded, “I want to help the next generation chase their dreams.” The athlete played a key role in China’s sprinting history. While China has traditionally excelled at the Olympics, its presence in elite athletics has often been limited.

However, under the brilliance of Su Bingtian, China clinched bronze in the 4x100m relay at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. He also finished sixth in the 100m final after clocking an Asian record of 9.83 seconds in the semifinals. Notably, he recorded a 60m split of 6.29 seconds during his 100m semifinal run, which was faster than the 6.31-second split registered by Usain Bolt during his world-record performance.

Although this came during a 100m race and does not threaten Christian Coleman’s official 60m world record, it remains a remarkable feat that places him eye-to-eye with Bolt in terms of raw speed. At the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing, Usain Bolt went on to win the 100m final, but he appeared visibly surprised to see Su Bingtian nearly match his pace on the track.

Now 36, the two-time Asian 100m champion and three-time Asian Games gold medallist will serve as dean of the School of Physical Education at Jinan University.

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