Dipa Karmakar, India’s First Female Olympic Gymnast, Retires

Dipa Karmakar, the trailblazing gymnast who made history as the first Indian woman to compete in gymnastics at the Olympics, announced her retirement on Monday.

The 31-year-old from Tripura, known for her mastery of the highly challenging Produnova vault, ended a career that inspired countless young athletes.

Karmakar’s standout moment came at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she narrowly missed an Olympic medal, finishing fourth in the vault final, just 0.15 points away from bronze. “After much thought, I have decided to retire from competitive gymnastics. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it feels right,” she shared in a statement.

Signing off from the mat! ❤️

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my journey.
Onto the next chapter🤸🏻‍♀️🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/kW5KQZLr29

— Dipa Karmakar (@DipaKarmakar) October 7, 2024

Reflecting on her journey, she added, “Gymnastics has been my life for as long as I can remember. I am grateful for every moment—the highs, the lows, and everything in between.”

Karmakar is one of only five women to successfully perform the Produnova, a vault known for its extreme difficulty and risk of injury. Hailing from Agartala, she hopes to contribute to gymnastics as a coach or remain a supporter of the next generation.

Her career, marked by perseverance, began with challenges, including flat feet—a condition that could have ended her aspirations. But through rigorous training, Karmakar overcame the odds, winning her first major title at the 2008 Junior Nationals. She rose to prominence with a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal in the event.

Karmakar continued to make history with a bronze at the 2015 Asian Championships and a fifth-place finish at the World Championships the same year—another first for an Indian female gymnast. Despite injuries post-Rio, she clinched gold at the 2018 World Cup in Turkey and later won a bronze in Cottbus, Germany.

In 2021, she secured a gold medal at the Asian Gymnastics Championships in Tashkent, which she described as a “turning point.” However, she acknowledged that her body was signalling it was time to step away.

Karmakar’s career also faced controversy when she was suspended for nearly two years after testing positive for the banned stimulant Higenamine. Despite the setback, her legacy remains one of remarkable achievements, earning her the Padma Shri, Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, and Arjuna Award.

“I leave with a heart full of memories and gratitude for my coaches, teammates, and fans who stood by me through every high and low,” Karmakar said in her farewell message.