Dipa Karmakar, Indian gymnastics trailblazer, retires
The 31-year-old Dipa was the first Indian female gymnast to compete in the Olympics at Rio 2016. She is also an Asian champion.
Artistic Gymnastics
Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar, an Olympian and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, announced her retirement from the sport on Monday.
Dipa, who hails from Agartala, Tripura, holds the distinction of being the first Indian female gymnast to compete at the Olympics. Her only Summer Games appearance at Rio 2016 saw her narrowly miss a medal in the women’s vault event.
The Indian is also among the very few gymnasts in the world who have been successful at landing the famous Produnova vault.
"After a lot of thinking, I have made the decision to retire from gymnastics. This decision wasn't easy for me, but now feels like the right time. Gymnastics has been a huge part of my life, and I am grateful for every moment, the highs, the lows, and everything in between," Dipa Karmakar said.
Born with a flat foot, a postural deformity considered to be a big detriment for any gymnast, India’s very own ‘Small Wonder’ - as her biography is titled - defied the odds to become India’s most successful gymnast of all time.
"I remember the five-year-old Dipa who was told that she could never become a gymnast because of her flat feet. Today, I feel immense pride looking at my achievements,” she said.
“Representing India on the world stage, winning medals, and most special of all, performing the Produnova Vault at the Rio Olympics have been the most memorable moments of my career. Today, seeing that little Dipa makes me very happy because she had the courage to dream,” the 31-year-old added.
Dipa Karmakar recently won gold in Vault at the Asian Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships 2024, becoming the first Indian to clinch top podium at the continental meet.
"My last victory at the Asian Gymnastics Championship in Tashkent was a turning point because until then, I thought I could push my body further, but sometimes our bodies tell us it's time to rest, even if the heart doesn’t agree," she revealed.
A Padma Shri and Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna awardee, Dipa Karmakar helped shape multiple firsts for Indian gymnastics. She is also the first Indian woman to win a gymnastics medal at the Commonwealth Games after claiming bronze at Glasgow 2014.
Dipa also became the first Indian to win a gold medal at an international gymnastics event after topping the women’s vault podium at the 2018 Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Mersin, Turkiye.
In the same year, Dipa Karmakar went on to win a bronze medal at the World Cup in Cottbus, Germany.