"They have made a lot of sacrifices"- Bronze medalist Swapnil Kusale offers earnest gratitude to his family after Paris 2024 Olympics heroics
Swapnil Kusale, who clinched India’s third medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, offered heartfelt gratitude to his coaches and family after securing bronze in the Men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions event.
Scoring 451.4, Kusale attributed his success to the unwavering support of those who stood by him throughout his journey.
"The coaches and family members do a lot of hard work, also because they have made a lot of sacrifices as well as they are sending one of their family members somewhere (for competitions),” he said while speaking to PTI.
He added:
”The athlete keeps working on his training but all those who are behind him, they have to make a lot of sacrifices so I will give them a lot of credit.
"My family never told me what was happening at home but they gave me everything that I asked for. They never let me feel what they lacked. Now I am determined to ensure that they don't feel lack of anything."
Kusale’s path to the podium was anything but smooth. Starting off in the sixth position after the kneeling stage with a score of 153.3, he managed to move up to fifth by the end of the prone round, totalling 310.1.
It was in the standing round, however, that Kusale demonstrated remarkable resilience. Despite a shaky start, where his first shot registered a 9.6, Kusale quickly found his rhythm, scoring 10.6 and 10.3 to briefly move into second place.
“I wanted to handle that and focus on shooting. I was imagining my team and Indian fans behind me, and their noise was something I wanted to hear,“ Swapnil Kusale said reflecting on the pressure of the final.
The competition remained intense, with Swapnil Kusale’s scores fluctuating and temporarily dropping him to fourth. Yet, he remained composed, ultimately securing third place with a crucial 10.3 shot.
His ability to manage pressure was a key factor in his success, a skill he has honed over years of dedication.
“Talking about the pressure in the final, I knew I had to focus on my breathing and not look at the leaderboard,” he shared.
Swapnil Kusale opens up on Vinesh Phogat's disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024
Paris Olympics 2024 bronze medalist Swapnil Kushale shared his thoughts on -Vinesh Phogat's shocking disqualification from the Olympics. The 29-year-old wrestler was found just a mere 100g over the weight bracket during the final weigh-in.
Vinesh who was all set to become the first Indian female wrestler to clinch a silver or a gold medal was instantly disqualified as the entire nation's dream shattered in a moment.
"After so much of hard work, (only) an athlete can imagine what she must be going through," Swapnil Kusale said speaking on the topic.