Swimming gems Srihari Nataraj

Srihari Nataraj is a real gem of swimming. He is just 18 years old but have 4 National Level Records and 3 State Level Records to his name. He was just 2 when he first saw the swimming pool and at 5 he won his first medal. Srihari Nataraj is just focused like Arjun and only seeing the eye of the fish, he is targeting Tokyo Olympics and win a medal in the 2024 Olympics, if he will not able to win in 2020 itself.

Early life
He was born on 16th January 2001 in Bangalore, Karnataka. He was a student of Sri Bhagawan Mahaveer Jain College, Bangalore. He belongs to sports persons family mainly cricketers and swimmers. He found himself trying to learn the tricks of swimming at a very early age when he saw his brother swimming in the pool and from there he never look back in life. Commonwealth Games is His first major multi-sport competition. The first time he represented India at a big stage.

Influence
Sri is influenced by Michael Phelps and tries to follow the American swimmer’s work ethics.

Achievements
Ramakrishna Hegde Swimming Pool is his training spot in Bengaluru and his long-time coach is AC Jairaj’s. According to coach focus is an important aspect of Srihari’s early success. He trains in the pool for two and a half hours in the morning and works out in the gym for an hour and a half. Evening, he swims for about three hours. When he’s out of water, he also has to catch up on the lessons he missed at school.

Srihari’s recent performances promise to ameliorate this medal drought. Last year, when he was 17, he won all the backstroke events at the Senior Nationals in record times and was adjudged the best swimmer, beating the likes of Virdhawal and Sajan. This February, at the Khelo India Games, he bettered the 100m backstroke record again whilst winning six golds and a silver medal.

Important moments of swimming journey
Firstly when he won 100-meter Backstroke in the South Asian Aquatic Championship 2016 Colombo. And secondly when he lose 200-meter Backstroke in the Asian Age Group Swimming Championship 2015 Thailand, Bangkok.

Practice before and after match
Pre-Match – I pray before starting the race and listen to music from the time I leave to the race venue until I start the race.

Post-Match – I thank God as soon as the race ends, I meet my coach immediately when I am out of the water. After that, I eat something.

What is his ultimate achievement?
Ultimate achievement would be to hold multiple World Records and multiple Olympic Medals.

Perk of being an athlete
The advantage of being an athlete is that you will have a well-maintained body and good health. Moreover, an athlete enjoys high fitness levels and a relaxed mind & body. Being an athlete gives a person a chance to prove themselves and do something useful which involves a lot a discipline.

Long Term goals
Represent India in the world Swimming Championship and win a medal, Represent India in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Break a World Record, Break multiple World Records in the future and Swim in multiple Olympics.

Biggest achievements so far
2016 South Asian Aquatic Championships – Colombo, Sri Lanka – 3 Gold Medals in 100M Backstroke, 200M Backstroke, 4 x 100M Medley Relay and 1 Silver in 50M Backstroke.
National level Medals: 14 Gold, 6 Silver and 4 Bronze

Srihari is a gem and we wish our gem good fortune.