14 years old Dhinidhi Desinghu-: India’s Youngest Olympian for Paris 2024 Olympics

Dhinidhi Desinghu

Dhinidhi Desinghu, a young Indian swimmer, made history as the youngest member of the Indian contingent at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

She competed in the women’s 200m freestyle event. 

Paris 2024 Olympics swimming, India schedule: Srihari Nataraj and Dhinidhi Desinghu aim to make a splash for India – Olympic Games Paris 2024

While she showcased great potential and determination, she unfortunately did not progress beyond the heats. Despite this, her participation was a significant milestone for Indian swimming, and her future in the sport is promising

Early Achievement and Sacrifices


Paris 2024 Olympics- , at just 14 years old, is set to become the youngest member of India’s contingent. Despite missing out on typical teenage activities, Dhinidhi is resolute in her pursuit of swimming excellence. She acknowledges feeling occasional loneliness but believes every sacrifice is justified in pursuit of her Olympic dream.She began competing in swimming at age eight. started swimming just for fun, to enjoy the water during my summer vacation.”

Personal Information

Nationality: India
Born: 17 May 2010 (age 14)
Birthplace: Bengaluru, Karnataka Height (m/ft): 1.61/5’3”
School: Kendriya Vidyalaya – DRDO Bangalore Father- Desinghu Pundi Srinivasan

Sport

Discipline: Swimming
Event: 200m freestyle
Team: India Coach-Madhu Kumar BM[Dolphin Aquatics] Club name-Karnataka [IND] / Dolphin Aquatics [IND]

Swimming competitions at Paris 2024 will take place between July 27 and August 4 at the Paris La Défense Arena.

INDIAN SWIMMING TEAM FOR PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS

Srihari Nataraj and  Dhinidhi Desinghu will represent India in swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympics.This will be Srihari Nataraj’s second Olympic appearance after Tokyo 2020 while teenager Desinghu is set for her debut in Paris.

  • Srihari Nataraj – men’s 100m backstroke
  • Dhinidhi Desinghu – women’s 200m freestyle

Path to Olympics
Dhinidhi’s journey to the Olympics began with notable performances at the National Games and senior National championships, where she secured medals. Recognizing her potential, the Swimming Federation of India awarded her one of the Universality places, cementing her spot in the prestigious event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Indian contingent heading for the upcoming Paris Olympics-Photo credit–Instagram Dhinidhi Desinghu-First line- 3rd from right

Dreams and Ambitions
Expressing excitement about her early Olympic selection, Dhinidhi sees this opportunity as a stepping stone for future Games in 2028 and 2032. She eagerly anticipates immersing herself in the Olympic Village environment, observing top athletes’ dedication and preparation, and gaining invaluable experience.

Inspiration and Role Models
Dhinidhi looks up to seven-time Olympic gold medallist Katie Ledecky as her idol. She plans to meet Ledecky in Paris, fulfilling a dream she had nurtured since creating a greeting card for her idol last year.

Impact on Indian Swimming
Amidst challenges in Indian swimming’s Olympic qualification, Dhinidhi’s selection stands out as a beacon of hope for the sport’s future in the country. Her participation signifies a positive stride forward, inspiring young swimmers nationwide.

Dhinidhi Desinghu’s journey exemplifies determination, youth, and a relentless pursuit of excellence in the face of challenges, marking her as a promising talent in Indian swimming. https://olympics.com/en/news/india-swimming-team-paris-2024-olympics-squad-list

Here’s a comprehensive chart detailing Dhinidhi Desinghu’s performances along with other swimmers in various relay events:

11th Asian Age group championship in Capas, Philippines -Dhinidhi Desinghu has made history by setting a New Best Indian record in the women’s 100m Freestyle event, with a stunning time of 57.33 seconds. Her performance surpasses the previous record held by Kenisha Gupta- 57.35, clocked in 2021.

EventNameTime/ResultDateCompetitionLocation
200m FreestyleDhinidhi Desinghu2:04.245 July 2023Indian ChampionshipsHyderabad, India
4 × 100m Freestyle RelayDhinidhi Desinghu (58.15), Maana Patel (57.71), Janhvi Choudhary (59.60), Shivangi Sarma (58.34)3:53.8024 September 2023Asian GamesHangzhou, China
4 × 200m Freestyle RelayDhinidhi Desinghu (2:08.59), Vritti Agarwal (2:09.41), Shivangi Sarma (2:11.32), Hashika Ramachandra (2:08.26)8:37.5828 September 2023Asian GamesHangzhou, China
4 × 100m Freestyle RelaySrihari Nataraj, Nina Venkatesh, Aneesh Gowda, Dhinidhi Desinghu (54.94)3:38.243 November 202337th National GamesPanjim, India
4 × 100m Medley RelaySrihari Nataraj, Nina Venkatesh, Vidith S. Shankar, Dhinidhi Desinghu (59.52)4:03.804 November 202337th National GamesPanjim, India
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_records_in_swimming

Also read list of Indian athletes who have qualified for the upcoming Paris Olympics 2024. https://globalbuzznetwork.com/indias-champions-at-paris-olympics-2024/