life life is that magical four-letter word life is full of surprises life is
word life is full of surprises life is
word life is full of surprises life is full of ups and downs life sometime is a
full of ups and downs life sometime is a
full of ups and downs life sometime is a piece of cake life sometime is a hard
piece of cake life sometime is a hard
piece of cake life sometime is a hard rock but life is definitely beyond mere
rock but life is definitely beyond mere
rock but life is definitely beyond mere existence a warm feeling at all
existence a warm feeling at all
existence a warm feeling at all I am Niranjan Mukundan Anand in Paris
I am Niranjan Mukundan Anand in Paris
I am Niranjan Mukundan Anand in Paris Woma an Asian Games medalist a junior
Woma an Asian Games medalist a junior
Woma an Asian Games medalist a junior world champion the one nicknamed as the
world champion the one nicknamed as the
world champion the one nicknamed as the medal machine of India well all these
medal machine of India well all these
medal machine of India well all these achievements keep me going and driving
achievements keep me going and driving
achievements keep me going and driving to achieve at the highest level possible
to achieve at the highest level possible
to achieve at the highest level possible I derive a lot of satisfaction through
I derive a lot of satisfaction through
I derive a lot of satisfaction through challenges that I’ve faced in my life
challenges that I’ve faced in my life
challenges that I’ve faced in my life and the obstacles that I face in my life
and the obstacles that I face in my life
and the obstacles that I face in my life that has got me to where I am today
that has got me to where I am today
that has got me to where I am today life puts you into a lot of situations
life puts you into a lot of situations
life puts you into a lot of situations some situations you handle with your
some situations you handle with your
some situations you handle with your maturity some situations you don’t even
maturity some situations you don’t even
maturity some situations you don’t even know from where to start some situation
know from where to start some situation
know from where to start some situation it traumatizes people who are around you
it traumatizes people who are around you
it traumatizes people who are around you in one situation I was born I was born
in one situation I was born I was born
in one situation I was born I was born with a unique medical condition named
with a unique medical condition named
with a unique medical condition named spina bifida and I had to undergo 16
spina bifida and I had to undergo 16
spina bifida and I had to undergo 16 major surgeries since birth to stand on
major surgeries since birth to stand on
major surgeries since birth to stand on my own legs but I was a fighter I never
my own legs but I was a fighter I never
my own legs but I was a fighter I never gave up I always took it in a positive
gave up I always took it in a positive
gave up I always took it in a positive note and I am where I am today one
note and I am where I am today one
note and I am where I am today one afternoon sitting by the corridors in my
afternoon sitting by the corridors in my
afternoon sitting by the corridors in my school I was talking to myself am I
school I was talking to myself am I
school I was talking to myself am I going to let my parents carry me on my
going to let my parents carry me on my
going to let my parents carry me on my life am I going to be a spectator all my
life am I going to be a spectator all my
life am I going to be a spectator all my life and then I realized that life gives
life and then I realized that life gives
life and then I realized that life gives you a lot of option one such option
you a lot of option one such option
you a lot of option one such option which was given to me by the doctor was
which was given to me by the doctor was
which was given to me by the doctor was to choose between horse riding and
to choose between horse riding and
to choose between horse riding and swimming to strengthen my legs as a
swimming to strengthen my legs as a
swimming to strengthen my legs as a small kid looking at that gigantic
small kid looking at that gigantic
small kid looking at that gigantic figure of a horse I was very scared and
figure of a horse I was very scared and
figure of a horse I was very scared and to sit on it and
to sit on it and
to sit on it and for a ride was even more scarier so I
for a ride was even more scarier so I
for a ride was even more scarier so I opted swimming once when my parents
opted swimming once when my parents
opted swimming once when my parents dipped me in the water
dipped me in the water
dipped me in the water I felt that chill but at the same time I
I felt that chill but at the same time I
I felt that chill but at the same time I was very happy each time they dipped me
was very happy each time they dipped me
was very happy each time they dipped me I felt like a fish in the water usually
I felt like a fish in the water usually
I felt like a fish in the water usually where kids take one month one and a half
where kids take one month one and a half
where kids take one month one and a half months to learn swimming I learned it in
months to learn swimming I learned it in
months to learn swimming I learned it in two weeks every time when I instructor
two weeks every time when I instructor
two weeks every time when I instructor put me at the shallow end I used to find
put me at the shallow end I used to find
put me at the shallow end I used to find my way to the deep end now when I look
my way to the deep end now when I look
my way to the deep end now when I look back a lot of instructors lost their job
back a lot of instructors lost their job
back a lot of instructors lost their job because of my adventures in one such
because of my adventures in one such
because of my adventures in one such adventure I was spotted by the head
adventure I was spotted by the head
adventure I was spotted by the head coach of the swimming pool he saw a
coach of the swimming pool he saw a
coach of the swimming pool he saw a spark of talent in me he saw a potential
spark of talent in me he saw a potential
spark of talent in me he saw a potential in me he said I could become an
in me he said I could become an
in me he said I could become an international champion when he convinced
international champion when he convinced
international champion when he convinced my parents that swimming can be taken
my parents that swimming can be taken
my parents that swimming can be taken more than therapy my parents were
more than therapy my parents were
more than therapy my parents were shocked they were they were they were
shocked they were they were they were
shocked they were they were they were not able to take it he said so my son my
not able to take it he said so my son my
not able to take it he said so my son my kid is not able to stand on land he’s
kid is not able to stand on land he’s
kid is not able to stand on land he’s only able to stand in water and to
only able to stand in water and to
only able to stand in water and to represent India in the future is
represent India in the future is
represent India in the future is something beyond our imagination but
something beyond our imagination but
something beyond our imagination but when he convinced this four months down
when he convinced this four months down
when he convinced this four months down the lane
the lane
the lane I represented the state at the Nationals
I represented the state at the Nationals
I represented the state at the Nationals I did not do well I came back to the
I did not do well I came back to the
I did not do well I came back to the coach and said probably competitive
coach and said probably competitive
coach and said probably competitive swimming is not for me and then he spoke
swimming is not for me and then he spoke
swimming is not for me and then he spoke about patience and perseverance are the
about patience and perseverance are the
about patience and perseverance are the key elements for success maybe at that
key elements for success maybe at that
key elements for success maybe at that time I wouldn’t have realized that but
time I wouldn’t have realized that but
time I wouldn’t have realized that but definitely now not just in sport even in
definitely now not just in sport even in
definitely now not just in sport even in life patience and perseverance are two
life patience and perseverance are two
life patience and perseverance are two key elements for success when I lost a
key elements for success when I lost a
key elements for success when I lost a lot of races it was definitely you know
lot of races it was definitely you know
lot of races it was definitely you know pinching me I thought I should give up
pinching me I thought I should give up
pinching me I thought I should give up swimming but that passion towards sports
swimming but that passion towards sports
swimming but that passion towards sports kept me moving and kept me motivated and
kept me moving and kept me motivated and
kept me moving and kept me motivated and to do well at the international level I
to do well at the international level I
to do well at the international level I had to set my standards high which began
had to set my standards high which began
had to set my standards high which began with the self-discipline I used to train
with the self-discipline I used to train
with the self-discipline I used to train around 8 to 9 hours a day and my day
around 8 to 9 hours a day and my day
around 8 to 9 hours a day and my day used to start at 4:30 a.m. and go on
used to start at 4:30 a.m. and go on
used to start at 4:30 a.m. and go on till 9 a.m. after which I still go to
till 9 a.m. after which I still go to
till 9 a.m. after which I still go to college and my evening as was a good
college and my evening as was a good
college and my evening as was a good swimmer
swimmer
swimmer three two for us and apart from that I
three two for us and apart from that I
three two for us and apart from that I used to do one to two hours of gym that
used to do one to two hours of gym that
used to do one to two hours of gym that made me a very confident person to take
made me a very confident person to take
made me a very confident person to take up swimming professionally what also
up swimming professionally what also
up swimming professionally what also helped me was experience and exposure
helped me was experience and exposure
helped me was experience and exposure I still remember in 2012 I had a good
I still remember in 2012 I had a good
I still remember in 2012 I had a good exposure I had a good record and
exposure I had a good record and
exposure I had a good record and swimming which gave me a chance to
swimming which gave me a chance to
swimming which gave me a chance to represent India I was very confident
represent India I was very confident
represent India I was very confident enough to face any swimmer irrespective
enough to face any swimmer irrespective
enough to face any swimmer irrespective of his size shape and origin that was
of his size shape and origin that was
of his size shape and origin that was the same year where I won the first
the same year where I won the first
the same year where I won the first laurels for my country
laurels for my country
laurels for my country this is a very proud moment for me to
this is a very proud moment for me to
this is a very proud moment for me to win a medal for India and that year was
win a medal for India and that year was
win a medal for India and that year was very special to me as I peaked at the
very special to me as I peaked at the
very special to me as I peaked at the Nationals winning five medals out of
Nationals winning five medals out of
Nationals winning five medals out of which three were gold with every victory
which three were gold with every victory
which three were gold with every victory brings in a higher set of expectations
brings in a higher set of expectations
brings in a higher set of expectations and during the World Games of all these
and during the World Games of all these
and during the World Games of all these years it’s been a test me of hard work
years it’s been a test me of hard work
years it’s been a test me of hard work and perseverance in the year 2013 I was
and perseverance in the year 2013 I was
and perseverance in the year 2013 I was able to grab four medals at
able to grab four medals at
able to grab four medals at international level and in the year 2014
international level and in the year 2014
international level and in the year 2014 I was able to grab eight medals in 2014
I was able to grab eight medals in 2014
I was able to grab eight medals in 2014 in the year 2015 which was my personal
in the year 2015 which was my personal
in the year 2015 which was my personal best I want ten medals out of which
best I want ten medals out of which
best I want ten medals out of which seven were gold I was crowned as the
seven were gold I was crowned as the
seven were gold I was crowned as the junior world champion there out of 40
junior world champion there out of 40
junior world champion there out of 40 countries which took part the indian
countries which took part the indian
countries which took part the indian national anthem was played seven
national anthem was played seven
national anthem was played seven different times and everyone stood up
different times and everyone stood up
different times and everyone stood up each time and once the medal ceremony
each time and once the medal ceremony
each time and once the medal ceremony was done I was done I was given a guard
was done I was done I was given a guard
was done I was done I was given a guard of honor and it gave me goosebumps
of honor and it gave me goosebumps
of honor and it gave me goosebumps sometimes when I look back at those
sometimes when I look back at those
sometimes when I look back at those years I can’t imagine if I could have
years I can’t imagine if I could have
years I can’t imagine if I could have made it this far but given my condition
made it this far but given my condition
made it this far but given my condition I could have probably been at home and
I could have probably been at home and
I could have probably been at home and be another ordinary child but I wanted
be another ordinary child but I wanted
be another ordinary child but I wanted to take the world challenge I wanted to
to take the world challenge I wanted to
to take the world challenge I wanted to prove the world that differently-abled
prove the world that differently-abled
prove the world that differently-abled are no less than anybody in this world
my biggest dream of all is the Olympics
my biggest dream of all is the Olympics which still awaits and is my next and
which still awaits and is my next and
which still awaits and is my next and immediate action with this given
immediate action with this given
immediate action with this given condition my parents could have
condition my parents could have
condition my parents could have definitely given up and not taking that
definitely given up and not taking that
definitely given up and not taking that risk of putting me into competitive
risk of putting me into competitive
risk of putting me into competitive swimming but they took up that risk and
swimming but they took up that risk and
swimming but they took up that risk and took the gamble knowing up that swimming
took the gamble knowing up that swimming
took the gamble knowing up that swimming and sports could open up avenues for me
and sports could open up avenues for me
and sports could open up avenues for me later in the future life has given me a
later in the future life has given me a
later in the future life has given me a lot of situation some positive some
lot of situation some positive some
lot of situation some positive some negative some good some bad but it’s
negative some good some bad but it’s
negative some good some bad but it’s always given me that strength and that
always given me that strength and that
always given me that strength and that courage to face the world and to stand
courage to face the world and to stand
courage to face the world and to stand apart I might have won a lot of
apart I might have won a lot of
apart I might have won a lot of accolades at this young age but I still
accolades at this young age but I still
accolades at this young age but I still feel that this is just the start and I
feel that this is just the start and I
feel that this is just the start and I have a long way to go I just realized
have a long way to go I just realized
have a long way to go I just realized that I took the words of Dory from this
that I took the words of Dory from this
that I took the words of Dory from this famous movie Finding Nemo a little
famous movie Finding Nemo a little
famous movie Finding Nemo a little seriously if you all know what it said
seriously if you all know what it said
seriously if you all know what it said when life gets you down you know what
when life gets you down you know what
when life gets you down you know what you’re gonna do just keep swimming just
you’re gonna do just keep swimming just
you’re gonna do just keep swimming just keep swimming just keep swimming thank
keep swimming just keep swimming thank
keep swimming just keep swimming thank you so much
you so much
you so much [Applause]
”
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