The athletics program of the 15th National Games concluded on Wednesday evening with the men's 4x100m relay final bringing one last surge of excitement to the Guangdong Olympic Sports Centre. All eyes were on 36-year-old "Asian flying man" Su Bingtian, who ran the first leg for Team Guangdong in what marked the final race of his legendary career. The team ultimately secured fourth place with a steady performance.
The Guangdong Olympic Sports Centre was packed beyond capacity for the event. In addition to filled functional seating areas, spectator zones were completely sold out, drawing over 50,000 fans. The primary focus of their attention was unequivocally Su Bingtian, making his final competitive appearance in his home province.
This race marked Su's first and only appearance at this edition of the National Games. Throughout his career, Su has a distinguished history in this event at the games, having previously helped Team Guangdong claim the title at both the 11th National Games in 2009 and the 12th edition in 2013. He also secured a gold medal in 2021 as part of a cross-provincial joint team.
Following the race, Su Bingtian walked onto the track alone, slowly making a lap to acknowledge and bid farewell to the packed stadium. The arena filled with the sounds of the classic song "Can't Say Goodbye," as more than 50,000 fans raised their phones, turning them into lights, and joined together in a chorus. The interwoven applause and singing created a deeply moving scene, providing a fittingly emotional conclusion to the sprint legend's career.
Su then took a microphone to share heartfelt words with the spectators and the track he loves. He admitted that the persistence and preparation over the past four years had been immensely challenging. However, he was determined not to fade away silently and without a proper goodbye, a conviction that sustained him until this moment. "And right now, being able to say goodbye to everyone here in my hometown is a tremendous honor. Thank you all for coming," he said. As he finished speaking, waves of applause and cheers once again swept through the stadium, lingering for a long time.
(Reporters Ao Minhui, Lu Jingyi, Li Ziyan | English Editor: Liu Yu)
Related News:
Opinion | Why no medal tally at 15th National Games? In search of warmer essence for sports
Comment