New Delhi: Asian Games gold medalist and Indian sprinter Jinson Johnson announced his retirement on Wednesday, saying that after a career of 15 years, it is time to do something new. The 34-year-old athlete from Kerala said his journey was full of ‘tough training, struggles and painful injuries’. Johnson has not competed since winning a bronze medal in the 1500 meters at the Hangzhou Asian Games in October 2023. The best moment of his career was winning the gold medal in 1500 meters at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games with a timing of 3 minutes 44.72 seconds. In these games, he also won a silver medal in 800 meters. “A dreamer’s journey began in Kolkata and led him to the podium at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games,” Johnson wrote on Instagram. Thanks, athletics. ,

“Some journeys are measured in meters and seconds,” the athlete wrote. Some are seen through tears, sacrifices, faith and people who never let you fall. Johnson had broken legendary athlete Shriram Singh’s 42-year-old men’s 800m national record by clocking 1:45.65 seconds during the National Inter-State Championships in Guwahati in 2018. However, this record was broken by Mohammad Afsal in 2025. At the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (Australia), Johnson broke Bahadur Prasad’s 23-year-old 1500 meters national record by clocking 3 minutes 37.86 seconds. Although he finished fifth in the final. After this, he improved his own national record twice more, with his best time being 3:35.24 seconds set at the Berlin Meet in 2019. “Breaking two national records and contributing to Indian athletics will be one of the proudest moments of my life,” he said. ,

“I have had the privilege of representing my country at the Olympic Games, World Athletics Championships, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games,” Johnson said. Every time I wore the Tricolor, I ran not just with my feet but with my heart. Recalling his long journey, Johnson said, “My journey started from Kolkata in 2007, when I won my first medal at the School Nationals. Then I didn’t know where this path would take me. All I knew was that I wanted to run for India. ,

“The life that followed was filled with tough training, struggles, painful injuries, on the track, testing comebacks and moments that made every sacrifice worth it,” he said. Johnson had the best year of his career in 2018.

“In 2018, I became Asia’s top athlete, which gave me the opportunity to represent Asia-Pacific at the IAAF World Continental Cup in Ostrava,” he said. That year was really memorable, I won gold in 1500m and silver in 800m at the Jakarta Asian Games. He further said, “Everything was going well, but in 2019, Covid-19 and a serious heel injury badly affected my career. After three years of struggle and recovery, I won a bronze medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023, which was my last race at the national and international level. ,

Johnson thanked his coaches, fellow players, the government and the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) for their guidance and support. “This journey was not just mine,” he said. Heartfelt thanks to all those who work tirelessly behind the scenes, often unseen but always felt. Thank you for pushing me every day. “You turned pain into progress and struggle into strength,” Johnson said. Without you I would not have become the athlete I am today. ,