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'Taking my spikes off for the final time' – American sprinter Morolake Akinosun announces retirement at 30

Olympic gold medalist Morolake Akinosun announces her retirement at 30 after an illustrious career in track and field.

American sprinter Morolake Akinosun has announced her retirement from professional track and field at the age of 30.

The 2016 Olympic gold medalist and World Champion in the 4x100 meter relay bids farewell to a sport in which she has thrived for over a decade, leaving behind a legacy filled with victories, resilience, and a clear sense of purpose for her next chapter in life.

Akinosun, who earned international acclaim as part of Team USA's winning relay squad in the Rio 2016 Olympics, took to social media to confirm the news.

Akinosun, who earned international acclaim as part of Team USA's winning relay squad in the Rio 2016 Olympics, took to social media to confirm the news.

In a candid reflection on her career and her decision to retire, Akinosun shared that she felt a deep sense of peace about her decision following the 2024 Olympic Trials.

"Following the 2024 Olympic Trials, I had an overwhelming feeling and sensation immediately after that I was done. It felt so clear to me," she said as quoted by Citius Mag.

The Nigerian-born sprinter revealed that she prayed for clarity and soon found herself on a new path, meeting influential figures like Michael Johnson and Steve Gera.

Just a month later, she was headed to Paris to work as a consultant with Grand Slam Track and soon after joined the company full-time.

Akinosun’s track journey began with success at a young age, clinching gold medals in the 100 meters and 200 meters events at the 2011 AAU Junior Olympics.

She then ascended to the national stage as the 2013 USA Junior Champion in the 100 meters and silver medalist in the 200 meters.

Her collegiate career was equally groundbreaking, as she became only the second woman in history to score in four events at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in consecutive seasons.

Akinosun's true breakout on the global stage came when she won gold at the 2015 Pan-American Games in Toronto, setting the stage for her Olympic glory in 2016 and her World Championship triumphs.

She was part of the victorious 4x100m relay team at the 2017 World Championships in London and added a bronze medal from the 2019 World Championships in Doha to her extensive medal haul.

Despite her incredible success, Akinosun recognized early on the need to plan for life after track.

Outside of her athletic career she has already made a mark in the world of media and event management.

“I don’t know if anyone ever knows exactly what they want to do when they’re done,” Akinosun admitted.

“But I did start dabbling in other things to figure out what life could possibly look like for me post-track and field.”