Star Gymnast Dipa Karmakar Announces Retirement, Says It Wasn’t an Easy Decision

India’s star gymnast Dipa Karmakar has said goodbye to gymnastics at the age of just 31. The star athlete announced her retirement on Monday by writing a long emotional post on social media.

Dipa Karmakar shared a post on her social media account x and wrote that after a lot of thinking, I have decided that I am retiring from gymnastics. This decision was not easy for me but this is the right time. Gymnastics is a very big part of my life. I am very grateful for every moment.

She further wrote that I remember that five-year-old Dipa, who was told that she could never become a gymnast due to her flat feet. Today I feel proud to see my achievements. Representing India at the world level winning medals, and most importantly performing the Produnova vault at the Rio Olympics, have been the most memorable moments of my career.

Now it is time to rest.

Dipa Karmakar further wrote today I am very happy to see that Dipa because she dared to dream. My last victory, the Asian Gymnastics Championship in Tashkent, was a turning point, because by then I felt that I could push my body more but sometimes our body tells us that now it is time to rest, but the heart still does not agree.

Dipa thanked me for the support.

The 31-year-old player further said that I want to thank my coach Bishwer Nandi Sir and Soma Mam, who guided me for the last 25 years and became my biggest strength. I want to thank the Tripura Government, Gymnastics Federation, Sports Authority of India, GoSports Foundation, and Meraki Sports and Entertainment for the support I received. Finally, my family who were always with me, on my good and bad days.

The relationship with gymnastics will never break.

Dipa finally wrote that even though I am retiring, my relationship with gymnastics will never break. I want to give something back to this sport. Maybe by supporting mentors, coaches, and other girls like me. Thanks to everyone once again for being a part of my journey.

Achievements of Dipa Karmakar

Dipa Karmakar is the first Indian female gymnast to participate in the Olympic Games. She performed well in the Rio Olympics 2016 but missed out on winning a medal by finishing fourth. Dipa missed out on winning the bronze medal in the vault event at the Rio Olympics by just 0.15 points. In 2018, she won the gold medal in the vault event of the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup in Mersin, Turkey. She became the first Indian gymnast to do so. She has also won the gold medal in the Asian Gymnastics Championship 2024. Apart from this, she has also brought laurels to the country in many other big events. Deepa also received the Khel Ratna Award in 2016. The very next year, i.e. in 2017, she was also honored with the Padma Shri Award.