Dipa Karmakar announces retirement, reflects on her journey through ‘highs, lows, and everything in between’

New Delhi: Dipa Karmakar, the first Indian woman gymnast to reach the Olympics and achieve a remarkable fourth-place finish, announced her retirement on Monday. The 31-year-old gymnast from Tripura made headlines with her performance in the vault final at the 2016 Rio Games, missing out on an Olympic medal by a narrow margin of just 0.15 points. Known for her mastery of the challenging Produnova vault, Dipa’s career has been an inspiration to many. In her statement, she shared, “After much thought and reflection, I have decided to retire from competitive gymnastics. This is not an easy decision, but it feels like the right time.”

“Gymnastics has been at the centre of my life for as long as I can remember, and I am grateful for every moment — the highs, the lows, and everything in between.” Dipa said she hopes to give back to the sport by becoming a coach at some point in her life or she might simply remain a “supporter of the next generation of gymnasts following their dreams”.

Born in Agartala, Dipa Karmakar is one of just five female gymnasts to land Produnova, where she performs two somersaults before landing. Dubbed the ‘vault of death’ because of the high degree of injury risk, this tense stunt defines Dipa’s phenomenal career.

“When I look back, I feel an overwhelming sense of pride for everything I’ve achieved. Representing India on the world stage, winning medals, and most memorably, performing the Produnova vault at the Rio Olympics, will forever be cherished as the pinnacle of my career,” she said.

“These moments were not just victories for me; they were victories for every young girl in India who dared to dream, who believed that with hard work and determination, anything is possible.” Dipa began her journey in gymnastics at the age of six, under the guidance of coaches Soma Nandi and Bishweshwar Nandi. Bishweshwar remained her mentor throughout her career, steering her towards numerous international medals and recognition on the global stage.

“I remember the 5-year-old Dipa who was told would not be able to become a gymnast because of having flat feet,” she wrote.

Add to this, she had to train at inadequately-equipped gyms while growing up and her journey to the Rio Games became an inspiring tale for gymnasts.

Dipa’s pursuit of sporting excellence took off in 2008 when she claimed victory at the Junior Nationals in Jalpaiguri. Her breakthrough moment came at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where she earned a bronze medal in the vault, becoming the first Indian woman gymnast to achieve such a feat in the event. This accomplishment put her in the spotlight and marked the beginning of her remarkable international career.

Dipa continued breaking her own barriers, earning a bronze at the Asian Championships in 2015 and finishing fifth at the World Championships that very same year-an unprecedented thing for an Indian female gymnast. Things went pretty tough after gaining much attention in the 2016 Rio Olympics. There were a lot of injuries and subsequently surgery. But she has staged a stunning comeback, winning gold at the 2018 Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Turkey to become the first Indian gymnast to claim a gold at a global event. Then added another bronze at the World Cup in Cottbus, Germany later that year. And it would be her breakthrough year in 2021 as she plunged victory into, overcoming multiple career challenges, with a gold medal at the Asian Gymnastics Championships in Tashkent.

“But my last victory at the Asian Gymnastics Championship in Tashkent was a turning point. After that win, I truly believed I could push my body to reach new heights again. But sometimes, our bodies tell us it’s time to rest, even when our hearts want to keep going,” she said.

While Dipa’s career has been remarkable, no great player is untouched by issues. A major scandal which set back her tremendous performance was when she was suspended for nearly two years after she was tested positive for banned stimulant Higenamine, used predominantly for treating asthma and cough. The test was held in October 2021 and went largely unreported in India till the news came that she had failed a doping test. She was suspended until July 10, 2023. However, the truth of her career is more remarkable for illustrious success than scandal. She has been awarded with several outstanding honours, including the Padma Shri, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, and the Arjuna Award, respectively, for her excellent service in Indian gymnastics.

“As I step away from the competitive arena, I do so with a heart full of memories and lessons that will stay with me forever. I have given my blood, sweat, and tears to this sport, and in return, it has given me a life full of purpose, pride, and endless possibilities.

“I am forever grateful to my coaches, teammates, support staff, and most importantly, to all of you — the fans who have stood by me through every high and low,” said Dipa.