Spearheaded by Su, the Chinese team clocked a national record of 37.79 in the 4x100m relay final at Tokyo 2020 to finish fourth, but was promoted to the bronze-medal position in May 2022, when the International Olympic Committee ruled to disqualify the runner-up Team GB over a doping violation.

With or without a final race at the National Games, Su said he could hang up his spikes in peace, knowing that his legacy as an athlete is secured, and his future as a contributor to Chinese athletics will be just as exciting.

"I will, for sure, stay around the sport to give back what I've learned from decades of training and racing at the highest level to Chinese athletics," said Su, who is currently a professor at the School of Physical Education of Jinan University in Guangzhou.

"I think we are not short of young talent at the grassroots level. We need to make sure that they will be developed in the right way, and on a consistent basis.

"I've developed a training system tailored for Asian athletes, and I am eager to engage with more young hopefuls and help them with such proven expertise," said Su.

sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn