[In Pictures] Swimmer Srihari Nataraj shares snaps from Paris 2024 Olympics preparation
As the 2024 Paris Olympics nears its opening day, Indian swimmer Srihari Nataraj is doing the final lap of training before appearing at his second Olympic Games.
In an Instagram post, the 23-year-old swimmer posted snaps of himself posing at the Paris Olympics venues. He also posted a photo of himself in his swimming gear as he trains for his 100m backstroke event participation.
“Paris Olympics 2024 ✅ Thrilled to take part in my second Olympic Games!!! 4 days until raceday!!” the caption of the Instagram post read.
Srihari Nataraj to lead India’s swimming charge at Paris 2024 Olympics
India has sent a two-member swimming contingent to this year’s Summer Olympic Games in Paris. Srihari Nataraj, who has previously represented India at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, is the senior member of the contingent.
The other swimmer selected for the Paris 2024 Olympics is 14-year-old swimming prodigy Dhinidhi Desinghu, who will compete at the women’s 200m freestyle event. Nataraj will have the responsibility of guiding his younger colleague, who is India’s youngest contingent member in Paris, through her Olympics debut.
Srihari Natarj has been India’s leading backstroke swimmer for some time and is the current national record holder in all three categories in the discipline – 50m, 100m, and 200m.
He has previously represented India at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics but finished in a disappointing 27th place. He also failed to secure the required Olympic Qualification Time (OQT) or the Olympic Consideration Time (OCT), which would have given him direct entry to Paris.
Eventually, he and Desinghu were selected via the Universality Quotas, whereby a country that has no automatic qualifications can send its two highest-ranked athletes (one man and one woman) to an Olympic event.
Now in Paris, Nataraj and Desinghu will look to improve on the Olympic stage. No Indian swimmer has ever won a medal at any Olympic Games, and Srihari Nataraj would try his best to change that fact this year.
The duo will start their Paris 2024 Olympics journey with their first events on July 28.