Dhinidhi Desinghu, once a shy and reserved child, will be the youngest member of the Indian contingent at the Paris Olympics 2024. The 14-year-old swimmer qualified for the women’s 200m freestyle on a universality quota, alongside Indian swimming veteran Srihari Nataraj. This achievement is a huge step in the youngster’s career, making a dream come true much sooner than she ever expected.
Early Struggles and Breakthroughs
It was Dhinidhi’s parents’ decision to introduce her to swimming to help her overcome her shyness and fear of water. “But I didn’t like the water, I didn’t want to get in. I couldn’t get my feet into the pool, I couldn’t get my head inside. It was a struggle,” Dhinidhi recalls. Despite her initial reluctance, her parents, Jesitha and Desinghu, persisted, even learning to swim themselves to make her feel comfortable.
At eight, Dhinidhi faced pressure during competitions, often falling sick or vomiting from anxiety. A turning point came at a state-level open meet in Mangalore. “I knew she had the talent… but then at competitions, she felt the pressure,” says Jesitha. After a difficult journey to Mangalore, Dhinidhi conquered her fears by bagging a gold medal, and never looked back.
Rising Star in Indian Swimming
Dhinidhi quickly established herself as a prodigious talent. She became the youngest female swimmer to win seven gold medals at the National Games and set a national record in the women’s 200m freestyle.
Training
She trains at Dolphin Aquatics in Bengaluru under the guidance of Dronacharya awardee Nihar Ameen and coach Madhu Kumar. “Since she’s been with us here at Dolphins, there’s never a day when she hasn’t worked hard,” says Madhu.
First Taste Of International Stage
Her first international exposure came at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, where she learned valuable lessons despite not having her best performance. “Standing on those blocks compared to watching on TV is so different,” she says, reflecting on the overwhelming experience.
Looking Ahead to Paris and Beyond
As Dhinidhi prepares for Paris 2024, her focus is on improving her personal best. “In 200m freestyle, her speed is really good in the first 50m but she can get better at finishing. If she can improve her third and fourth 50m segments, she can get a Personal Best,” says Madhu. Having Srihari Nataraj, whom she idolizes, alongside her will be an added advantage.
Dhinidhi meticulously tracks her progress in a diary, noting down her goals, best practice times, and national records. She also maintains a blog to share her experiences, hoping it might help others facing similar challenges.
Dreams and Aspirations
Excited about the Olympics, Dhinidhi is eager to meet some of the world’s best sportspersons, including her idol Katie Ledecky. “I have made this little gift for Katie Ledecky… well, not a gift, more like a letter… I still have it. So I’ll try to give it to her,” she says.
Now, she enjoys the adrenaline rush of racing and competing. “But now that I’m here, I want to reach for higher stuff. I want to see how much better I can be.”
For a shy kid who once struggled to speak and hated getting into the pool, Dhinidhi has come a long way as she gears up for Paris Olympics 2024.
The Sportz Planet Desk,
Atharva Shetye
