Paris Olympics: Bengaluru Teen Dhinidhi Desinghu Ready To Rub Shoulders With Creme de la Creme of Swimming World

Add as a preferred source on Google

In the heart of Karnataka, where the rhythms of everyday life gently flow, unfolds the remarkable journey of Dhinidhi Desinghu. From cautious splashes to making waves in the pool, Dhinidhi Desinghu, at just 14, is the youngest member of the Indian contingent at the Paris 2024 Summer Games: A journey that began with a deep fear of water.

"She was terrified of water and heights," recalls her mother Jesitha Dhinidhi while speaking to myKhel. "At 6 years old, she wouldn't even dip her head underwater."

Jesitha further explains her daughter was enrolled into a swimming programme at that early age to encourage her socialisation and have an active lifestyle. But why swimming out of all sports? Because it was a stone's throw from their residence.

However, the journey to the Olympics was easier said than done as Dhinidhi ran away from the pool prompting her parents to halt her lessons until she turned 7. "It was a slow process," Jesitha sighs. "We stood by her in the water, reassuring her patiently. By the time she was 7, she felt more comfortable."

It wasn't until an experienced swimmer noticed the raw talent of the young girl, making Jesitha realise that her daughter had a serious future in aquatics sport. The Desinghu family decided to fast-track things as Dhinidhi made her debut in competitive swimming by the next year.

The youngster was growing in confidence too as her transition from hesitant splashes to confident strokes was swift and remarkable. "She attended her first state meet in 2019 May and won gold in all six events," Jesitha beams.

Recognising the need for a bigger pool for this fast-growing 'fish', Dhinidhi moved to Dolphin Aquatics, a prestigious coaching institute, Padukone-Dravid Center for Sports Excellence. The institute eventually made her the Olympian she is today. "They shaped her into the swimmer she is today," Jesitha affirms gratefully.

However, the path to Olympics at the acclaimed institution came with sheer discipline, sacrifice and perseverance. This includes some rigorous daily routine that starts before the daybreaks.

"Dhinidhi gets up by 4, leaves for training around 4.20. By 4.45, she reaches the pool, warms up, and stretches until 5, then gets into the pool," reveals Jesitha. "Until 7.30, she trains and prepares for school on-site. From there, she goes directly to school and returns to the daycare centre within my office campus by 2.15."

Unlike most of the kids of her age, who get to spend time with her friends after the school hours, the teenager heads back to the pool by 4:30 PM to train for another three hours before she returns home for her last meal of the day followed by an early bedtime.

A Mature Head for Her Age

The gruelling routine only reminds of record 28-time Olympic medallist and US swimming superstar Michael Phelps, who never skipped a day of his training as he believed a day off takes him a day behind. Hoewever, Dhinidhi is not just about swimming, reckons her father Desinghu PS, who proudly adds that his daughter is a self-taught skilled artist.

"Swimming is not her only trait. Dhinidhi has developed her skills in drawing, painting, and card making through her own initiative," says her father, who takes immense pride in revealing that the teen has no love for junk food. "Regardless of where we are, Dhinidhi prefers home-cooked meals, junk food is not an option. Even when travel, she insists we pack food from home, maintaining her balanced diet."

Mr Desinghu in fact had a keen eye on his daughter's growth and opined that for a girl who once feared water has now grown into a confident young girl, whose focus is unwavering. He credits the exposure to the competitive environment on the national stage for her growth.

"Her experience with competitive sports has truly shaped Dhinidhi's growth. Initially, she was quite shy and reserved, not very adept at interacting with others," says the father. "But from then to now, she's a completely different child. She communicates and acts with a maturity beyond her years, exuding confidence and actively engaging with others. She motivates younger kids, displays remarkable discipline, and manages her time exceptionally well. Her focus is unwavering."

Further giving a peek into her mentality and growth, the Designhu patriarch revealed that they aimed for Los Angeles 2028 as a realistic goals for her but Dhinidhi always believed in short-term goals and the reason why her performance and growth in this period saw the unthinkable happened.

"She likes to keep short term goals as always. Our goal was LA 2028, but she has been phenomenal in this cycle. She is determined to do her best," says Mr Designhu.

Dhinidhi Aims for Personal Best at Paris Olympics

For the novice, Dhinidhi specialises in 200m freestyle and also competes in 100m freestyle, 200m individual medley. Her performances in the Olympics cycle made her the top-ranked Indian female swimmer with the Swimming Federation of India handing her one of the two Universality places and an opportunity of a lifetime to represent India in women's 200m freestyle.

In Paris, however, she will be up against the who's who of the 200m freestyle, including reigning champion Ariarne Titmus (Australia) and current world champion Siobhán Haughey (Hong Kong) among hoards of other big names.

Amid all the challenges, she will be the second youngest Indian swimmer at the Olympics behind Arati Saha, who competed at the age of 11 in 1952 Helsinki. Dhinidhi, however, knows she can't get too much ahead of herself, especially when she is now seen as a swimming prodigy.

"I'm excited and nervous," shares Dhinidhi from the Olympic village. "I aim to set a personal best and make India proud. It's an incredible opportunity, and I'm determined to give my best performance."

The Olympic cycle has been an underwhelming one for Indian swimming despite the fact that one can qualify through 'B' standard timing, which allows a lowered time of qualification if all the slots are not filled through 'A' qualification timing. This is in contrast to last Olympics, when Indian swimming hotshots Srihari Nataraj and Sajan Prakash breached the 'A' standard.

However this Olympic cycle, Dhinidhi has been on a roll, winning medals at the National Games and the senior National championships last year. In 2023, she set a national record at the Junior and Sub-Junior National Aquatic Championships in the 100m freestyle. She continued her remarkable streak by achieving two more records in the 200m freestyle and 200m individual medley events. Her success continued at the National Games in Goa, where she clinched an impressive seven gold medals.

In July 2023, she added to her accolades by winning gold at the 76th Senior National Aquatic Championships in the women's 200m freestyle. Her winning streak persisted into 2024, claiming gold at the 54th Singapore National Age Group in the same event. As far as international exposure is concerned, she further participated at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha this year with India's mixed 4x100 medley relay team after competing at the Asian Games last year.

Over the past year, Dhinidhi has established herself as the best Indian swimmer in the women's section. She clinched the women's 200m freestyle title - her event for the Paris Olympics - at the 2023 National Aquatics Championships with a national record time of 2:04.24s in Gachibowli, Hyderabad.

Follow our elaborated Paris Olympics Coverage

In Paris, she will also have the guidance of Srihari Nataraj, an Indian swimming legend in his own rights with record four individual national record to his name. The Tokyo Olympian and Dhinidi are the only Indian swimmers in Paris and training with his junior for the past few weeks, Srihari is nothing but impressed.

"She is talented, and very hardworking," remarks the 23-year-old swimmer, who received the second universality quota for Paris. "It's a big thing to qualify at 14. I've been training with her for the past three, four weeks, and I'm impressed by what she brings to the table at her age."

Meanwhile, another Olympian swimmer Sajan Prakash suggests not to burden the teenager with any expectation this early in her career, saying the event is about exposure for a "bright future ahead".

"I really hope she enjoys her Olympic pool debut," remarks 30-year-old Sajan. "She has a bright career ahead. Games will give her a lot of exposure and experiences."

From overcoming her fear of water to becoming India's youngest swimmer at the Games, her story inspires countless others. As she dives into the pool in Paris, Dhinidhi carries with her not just the hopes of a nation but the dreams of every young athlete aspiring to make their mark on the world stage. No matter the outcome, her journey is already a remarkable victory.