Swimmer Srihari Nataraj eyes elusive semi-final berth at Paris Olympics 2024

Swimmer Srihari Nataraj has said that qualifying for the semi-finals at the Paris Olympics is well and truly on the cards if he breaches his personal best timing of 53.77 seconds. With a season-best of 54.68 seconds, Nataraj has been in decent form. He secured direct qualification for the Tokyo Olympics but rode on luck to secure his berth in the upcoming quadrennial event.

He did not make the cut through the regulation process but made an entry through the Universality Quota, which allows nations to recommend their two best swimmers for the Olympics.

“I just have a goal towards trying to get a personal best. And I think if I make a personal best, it puts me in a good spot to be in the semi-finals,” Nataraj told PTI.

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"Needed time off to rest" - Srihari Nataraj after hectic 2023 season

Nataraj has had an excellent run after he won 10 medals, including eight gold in the National Games last year. Since 2017 when he was only 16 years old, Nataraj has been performing at the competitive level. He said that the constant grind has taken a toll on his body and he needed some time off to get recharged for big events.

"I just needed time off to rest because my 2023 season was crazy and so hectic with so many races. I think if I did not take any time off, my body would have broken down by now,” Nataraj was quoted as saying by PTI.

"And it could have led to an injury or I would have lost the drive to train. My body was under so much stress. I kind of just needed a few weeks off just to let my body rest," he added.

Back in Tokyo, Nataraj could not make his way through to the semis in the 100-metre backstroke heats after he finished 27th. Only the top 16 qualified for the semis. This time around, the swimmer is up and running to make amends.

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