'I wanted to win every race,' says Srihari Nataraj after 7 medals at Asian Aquatics Championships

Fresh off a record setting seven-medal run at Asian Aquatics Championships, Olympian Srihari Nataraj on working with one goal: the 2026 Asian Games in Japan
Photo of Srihari Nataraj
Photo of Srihari Nataraj
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At the recently-held Asian Aquatics Championships in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru’s own two-time Olympian Srihari Nataraj won seven medals across backstroke, freestyle and relay categories, the best performance by an Indian in the history of the event. The morning after the last event, still recovering from his flight, he says nonchalantly, “The goal was to win a few medals but when I found out that I’m in contention for most of my events, I wanted to win a medal in every single race I swam. I was seven for eight, so that’s not too bad.”

The 24-year-old swimming maverick points to the support he received on day one and his first medal, a silver in the 200m freestyle, as a memory that will stick with him, reported Mahima Nagaraju of The New Indian Express.

“It’s a highlight because I’ve won a few other international tournaments but none of them were championship games – this is my first major international medal,” he says, adding, “The stadium was filled. When I won the first race, the crowd went crazy. It’s only afterwards that I really realise how massive the support was.”

Currently, Nataraj holds national records in the 200m freestyle and 100m backstroke. This year marks a shift for him. After noticing his freestyle performance improve over the years without focussed training in the area, he’s been giving it special attention, assisted by a swim tech company.

He explains, “They provide feedback with the all data that you can think of – stroke rate, distance per stroke length, velocity, underwater distance, underwater time, start reaction time, and the time for turns. There’s also a camera setup with an analysis system that lets you see the video immediately with metrics; you can make changes, and see whether they are working on live feedback.”

All his success in freestyle and backstroke races aside, Nataraj mentions that relays hold a special place. At the championships, the Indian men’s team won the 4x100m relay with Nataraj anchoring it. He says, “Solo races and relays are different. Every time I swim a relay, it’s fun. There’s a bit of pressure, but you’re sharing it with others.”

With this year marking 10 years of competing internationally, one wonders if Nataraj faces lows. He confesses, “Disappointments are part of the sport. I’ve been finishing fifth or sixth in major international games by point one of a second. But I’ve learned that in any race, there’s always another chance.”

It is with this ‘can do’ attitude that he’s prepping for his next goal: the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. “There are going to be times where I’m exhausted after a tournament, like now, but at the end of the day, every season is dedicated towards a certain goal and now, it’s all leading up to the Asian Games.”

His secret weapon to winning? “When it comes to swimming, I’m not the fittest or the strongest, but I have good technique, and I rely a lot on my mental strength. My process is simple: do what you have to do, be happy and just stay involved in this work.”

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