Indian middle-distance runner Jinson Johnson has announced his retirement from competitive athletics, culminating a successful career that spanned fifteen years. Johnson, who notably competed in the 800m event at the Rio 2016 Olympics, holds the national record for the 1500m, achieved at the ISTAF Berlin meet in 2019 with a time of 3:35.24.
His participation in the Rio 2016 Olympics marked a significant milestone as he became the first Indian male runner to qualify for the 800m event since Sriram Singh in 1980. Reflecting on his journey, Johnson expressed gratitude and nostalgia in a social media post, acknowledging the support and sacrifices that shaped his career.
Throughout his illustrious career, the 34-year-old athlete secured three medals at the Asian Games, including a gold in the 1500m event in 2018, a silver in the 800m event in the same year, and a bronze in the 1500m event in 2023. Additionally, he clinched silver and bronze medals at the Asian Athletics Championships in 2015 and 2017, respectively.
In 2018, Jinson Johnson set the national record for the 800m event by surpassing Sriram Singh’s longstanding record with a time of 1:45.65. Despite stepping away from competitive athletics, Johnson expressed his enduring love for the sport, emphasizing the values of discipline, resilience, and respect instilled in him by his time on the track.
