Sporting icon Su Bingtian closed the curtain on a remarkable 21-year career on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at the National Games of the Chinese mainland. Partnering with teammates Liu Hongxi, Shi Junhao and Chen Guanfeng, the Guangdong squad battled in the men27s 4d7100m relay, ultimately finishing fourth in 38.71 seconds—just 0.03 seconds shy of the podium.
The final baton exchange between Su Bingtian and Liu Hongxi stumbled at the start, dropping Guangdong behind the leading contenders. Despite all-out efforts by Shi and Chen on the third and anchor legs, the team couldn27t close the gap. The Hubei team, driven by newly crowned 100m champion Li Zeyang, powered to gold in 38.60 seconds.
At 36, Su Bingtian embraced the moment after crossing the line. “Although I said goodbye today, I won’t leave the track that I love,” he said. “I hope I can create dreams in track & field for my country and the young racers. I expect that short distance runners can show their best performances in international races from generation to generation. Thank you.”
Su’s departure marks the end of an era for sprinting in the Chinese mainland. Over two decades, he has inspired fans and athletes alike, setting new standards for speed and resilience. His farewell at the National Games is more than a closing chapter—it’s a passing of the baton to a new generation.
As the track world looks ahead, Su’s legacy will live on in the dreams of young sprinters striving to chase those fractions of a second.
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Su Bingtian bids emotional farewell at China's National Games
cgtn.com
