Top 3 achievements by Dipa Karmakar ft. the Produnova Vault

Dipa Karmakar, one of India's most iconic gymnasts, recently announced her retirement from the sport at the age of 31. After an incredible journey filled with groundbreaking achievements, including her historic performance at the 2016 Rio Olympics and several international medals, Dipa decided it was the right time to step away.

In her heartfelt statement, she reflected on the highs and lows of her career and expressed immense pride in what she had accomplished.

After much thought and reflection, I have decided to retire from competitive gymnastics. This is not an easy decision, but it feels like the right time. Gymnastics has been at the centre of my life for as long as I can remember, and I am grateful for every moment—the highs, the lows, and everything in between,” shared Dipa as quoted by The Indian Express.

As she bids farewell to gymnastics, it’s a perfect moment to celebrate some of her most remarkable achievements. Let us take a look at her top three achievements.

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#1 First Indian Gymnast to Reach an Olympic Final – Rio 2016

Dipa Karmakar made history at the 2016 Rio Olympics by becoming the first Indian gymnast to ever reach an Olympic final. Competing in the vault event, she stunned the world with her remarkable precision and athleticism. She narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing fourth with a score of 15.066. Though she didn’t make it to the podium, her Rio performance was a victory for Indian gymnastics.

Her journey to the Olympic stage wasn’t an easy one. Coming from the small Indian state of Tripura, Dipa had to overcome numerous obstacles, including initial physical limitations like flat feet. Through relentless hard work and determination, she went on to compete against the world's best.

Her fourth-place finish was a landmark moment for Indian sports and has inspired countless young gymnasts nationwide to dream big.

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2. Bronze medal in vault at the Commonwealth Games 2014

Before her Olympic breakthrough, Dipa Karmakar had already made headlines by winning a bronze medal in the vault event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

This was the first time an Indian gymnast had ever won a medal at the Commonwealth Games, and Dipa’s achievement was nothing short of extraordinary.

What made this feat even more impressive was the fact that Dipa Karmakar performed the Produnova vault — one of the most difficult and dangerous routines in gymnastics.

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3. Performing the dangerous Produnova Vault

Dipa is one of only five women in the world to have successfully landed the Produnova vault, often referred to as the "Vault of Death."

Known for its extreme difficulty, this vault involves a handspring double front somersault, and any slight error can result in serious injury. Despite the risks, Karmakar embraced the challenge head-on and made the Produnova her signature move.

Her decision to work on the Produnova vault came after being told that only male gymnasts had a real shot at winning medals. She set out to prove that women could perform at the highest level, and she succeeded spectacularly.

Only five gymnasts have successfully executed the challenging Produnova vault. Yelena Produnova, after whom the vault is named, was the first to do so. Following her were Yamilet Pena of the Dominican Republic, Uzbekistan's Oksana Chusovitina, Egyptian athlete Fadwa Mahmoud, and India's Dipa Karmakar.

Dipa Karmakar’s stellar showing of this vault helped her earn international acclaim, including a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.