At just 14 years of age, Dhinidhi Desinghu has become the youngest Indian swimmer to compete at the Olympics. Hailing from Bengaluru, she represented India in the 200m freestyle event at the Paris 2024 Summer Games.
Despite finishing 23rd out of 31 competitors with a time of 2:06.96, Desinghu’s Olympic debut was a memorable experience. “Just getting a chance to be here with all these amazing athletes is such an amazing opportunity,” she said. “I am just really happy I got a chance to be swimming at such an amazing venue at the Olympics.”
Desinghu’s journey to the Olympics has been marked by impressive achievements at the national level. She has also represented India at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou and the World Aquatics Championships in Doha earlier this year.
Despite her young age, Desinghu has shown remarkable resilience and determination. She used to experience nervousness before competitions, but has overcome this challenge to become a formidable competitor.
After completing her events in Paris, Desinghu attended a meet and greet at India House, where she interacted with fans and shared her Olympic experience. Her shy demeanor and youthful enthusiasm made her a popular figure among the audience.
Desinghu’s Olympic debut is a testament to her talent and hard work. She is an inspiration to young athletes across India, demonstrating that age is no barrier to achieving dreams.
