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

At the recently-held Asian Aquatics Championships in Ahmedabad, Bengalurus 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 Im 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 thats 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. Its a highlight because Ive 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. Its 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, hes 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. Theres 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 mens team won the 4x100m relay with Nataraj anchoring it. He says, Solo races and relays are different. Every time I swim a relay, its fun. Theres a bit of pressure, but youre 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. Ive been finishing fifth or sixth in major international games by point one of a second. But Ive learned that in any race, theres always another chance. It is with this can do attitude that hes prepping for his next goal: the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. There are going to be times where Im exhausted after a tournament, like now, but at the end of the day, every season is dedicated towards a certain goal and now, its all leading up to the Asian Games. His secret weapon to winning? When it comes to swimming, Im 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.