Sri Lankan sprint star Yupun Abeykoon, has announced his retirement from competitive athletics, bringing the curtain down on a career that redefined Sri Lankan sprinting on the international stage.
The 31-year-old sprinter shared the news through a heartfelt statement on social media, thanking everyone who had supported him throughout his journey while reflecting on the highs and challenges of his career.
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Abeykoon leaves the sport as one of the most accomplished athletes in Sri Lankan history. He concluded his historic career as South Asia’s fastest man, holding the regional and national records, and leaving a legacy as the first South Asian to break the 10-second barrier in the 100-meter event.
Abeykoon was also the first Sri Lankan to have competed at the Diamond League event.
Sub-10 Barrier: Created history by clocking 9.96 seconds at a meet in Switzerland in 2022, becoming the first South Asian to run the 100m in under 10 seconds.
Commonwealth Success: Won a bronze medal in the Men’s 100m at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Records: Holds the South Asian and Sri Lankan records in both the 100m and 200m events.
Abeykoon, who was based and trained in Italy for a significant portion of his professional career, battled various injuries during the later stages of his career. His departure marks the end of a transformative era for Sri Lankan track and field, having inspired the next generation of runners in the country to pursue professional athletic careers.
