Sri Lanka’s fastest sprinter Yupun Abeykoon has announced his retirement from athletics, saying he is leaving the sport with a sense of fulfilment while remaining grateful for the experiences it has given him.
In an emotional statement, Abeykoon said he leaves athletics “owing nothing to my country, but indebted to the world,” while expressing his appreciation to everyone who supported him throughout his career.
He thanked his family, coaches, teammates, the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Athletics, his Italian training team, sponsors and the millions of Sri Lankans who stood behind him during his journey.
Abeykoon said representing Sri Lanka on the international stage and bringing recognition to the country was the greatest honour of his life.
However, he acknowledged that retiring while still feeling capable of competing was a difficult decision and one that he regrets.
The sprinter said he will reveal the reasons behind his decision in the next chapter of his journey, while also sharing his experiences and views on the current state of Sri Lankan athletics.
Abeykoon’s retirement marks the end of a significant chapter in Sri Lankan sprinting, where he became a symbol of the country’s presence on the global athletics stage.
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