Proud that I dared to dream: Although it was referred to as the “vault of death,” Dipa Karmakar popularized the appellation “Produnova vault” in India. Fans across the nation were captivated to their television screens when a young girl from Tripura placed fourth at the Rio Olympics in 2016 with a score of 15.966, just 0.15 points behind the bronze winner, even though they may not have known much about gymnastics or the nuances of the vault.
Karmakar, the first female gymnast from India to make it to the Olympics, was eerily close to winning a medal in a sport that had no history in her home country. She stood out in the sporting world of India just for that.
It seemed almost unimaginable to consider an Indian gymnast performing the risky Produnova vault at the Olympics. However, Dipa shone that evening in Rio with strength, grace, composure, and a daring streak. She executed a front handspring off the vault, two and a half somersaults, and nearly perfected one of the hardest gymnastics routines, which only four other gymnasts in the world had attempted before her.
Her Olympic goal tragically came to an end there as physical trauma damaged her body and prevented her from competing in further events. Her body informed her it was time to give up on the sport, but she persisted in pushing herself over the years in the hopes of staging a spectacular comeback.
Dipa answered the phone on Monday, bringing an end to a career that had inspired many dreams. Her final international competition, where she won a gold medal at the Asian Championships in Tashkent in May of this year, served as her cue to retire.
Proud that I dared to dream:
She is going on a high note, so Dipa will have the comfort of that. Even though she is 31 years old and may not have much fight left in her, she has really blazed a road for Indian sports.
“My most recent triumph came at the Asian Gymnastics Championships in Tashkent, which marked a turning point in my career as I realized that I was no longer able to push my body.” When our bodies tell us it’s time to relax, our hearts sometimes refuse to listen,” Dipa stated in a heartfelt letter announcing her retirement.
“I recall telling five-year-old Dipa that her flat feet would prevent her from becoming a gymnast. Looking back at my accomplishments now, I’m proud of who I am. The most memorable moment of my career was performing the Produnova vault at the Rio Olympics; it was an honor to represent India and earn medals on the international arena. “I’m glad and proud that I had the guts to dream,” she remarked.
“I’ve made the decision to retire from gymnastics after giving it some thought. Although I didn’t find this decision to be simple, I think the timing is right. My life revolves on gymnastics, and I am thankful for every experience, including the highs and lows and everything in between.
The Vivekananda Byamagar club in Agartala, where she trained, had the most basic amenities. Nothing in the gymnasium, including the landing area and apparatus, was state-of-the-art, but that didn’t make Dipa any less determined.
She began assiduously pursuing her dream of representing India internationally at the age of six. She competed for India in the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games and earned a bronze four years later in Glasgow, becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal in gymnastics.
The Indian teenager quickly gained fame in the gymnastics world for her hallmark performance, the Produnova, aka the “vault of death.” In 2015, she placed sixth at the World Championships while taking home the bronze medal in the Asian Championships.
She then qualified for the final of the Rio Olympics, making history as the first Indian gymnast to do so. Dipa finished behind Switzerland’s Giulia Stengruber (15.216) in the women’s vault final, but she was greeted with cheers upon her return home.
She took a long time to heal, so an ACL surgery the following year came as a huge blow. She made multiple attempts to recover, but the injuries persisted. She took home the national title this year and competed in international competitions in a desperate attempt to earn a spot in the Olympics in Paris, but it was already too late.
“I would want to express my gratitude to Soma (Nandi) mam and my coach Bisheshwar Nandi, who both helped me for 25 years and were my greatest assets. I express my gratitude to my parents for their unwavering support in both good and terrible times.
“Gymnastics and I will always be connected.” I want to return to the sport, whether as a coach, mentor, or just by standing by other girls in the same situation as me. I appreciate everyone’s support.
