[Music] it’s a sharp 11 a.m. in the morning
it’s a sharp 11 a.m. in the morning
it’s a sharp 11 a.m. in the morning under a pale blue scorching hot eye and
under a pale blue scorching hot eye and
under a pale blue scorching hot eye and the endless Arabian Sea spread like a
the endless Arabian Sea spread like a
the endless Arabian Sea spread like a blue jelly carpet before me as I dive in
blue jelly carpet before me as I dive in
blue jelly carpet before me as I dive in I’m trained to dive when my coach
I’m trained to dive when my coach
I’m trained to dive when my coach whistles it’s a reflex I haven’t tried
whistles it’s a reflex I haven’t tried
whistles it’s a reflex I haven’t tried to fight off yet thinking is all that a
to fight off yet thinking is all that a
to fight off yet thinking is all that a swimmer can do because swimming is our
swimmer can do because swimming is our
swimmer can do because swimming is our instinct in this vast blue jelly spread
instinct in this vast blue jelly spread
instinct in this vast blue jelly spread I put in all my energies to swim forward
I put in all my energies to swim forward
I put in all my energies to swim forward the water is like a child sometimes it
the water is like a child sometimes it
the water is like a child sometimes it is well-behaved and allows me to swim as
is well-behaved and allows me to swim as
is well-behaved and allows me to swim as far as a kilometer and a half in an hour
far as a kilometer and a half in an hour
far as a kilometer and a half in an hour and at other times it is an
and at other times it is an
and at other times it is an accommodating and I barely swim 400
accommodating and I barely swim 400
accommodating and I barely swim 400 meters in the same time I water this
meters in the same time I water this
meters in the same time I water this blue jelly carpet that hugs me and keeps
blue jelly carpet that hugs me and keeps
blue jelly carpet that hugs me and keeps me buoyant and I can feel that it loves
me buoyant and I can feel that it loves
me buoyant and I can feel that it loves me back Lee gentlemen I am curvy Singhvi
me back Lee gentlemen I am curvy Singhvi
me back Lee gentlemen I am curvy Singhvi 14 years old and studying in class ninth
14 years old and studying in class ninth
14 years old and studying in class ninth at DPS pepper on 26 March of this year I
at DPS pepper on 26 March of this year I
at DPS pepper on 26 March of this year I became the first girl to cross the open
became the first girl to cross the open
became the first girl to cross the open sea route from the ceiling to the covers
sea route from the ceiling to the covers
sea route from the ceiling to the covers Gateway of India in a record time of 6
Gateway of India in a record time of 6
Gateway of India in a record time of 6 hours and 35 minutes my only swimming
hours and 35 minutes my only swimming
hours and 35 minutes my only swimming days as far back as I can remember our
days as far back as I can remember our
days as far back as I can remember our memories from photographs of completing
memories from photographs of completing
memories from photographs of completing was 50 meter of a pool the competitions
was 50 meter of a pool the competitions
was 50 meter of a pool the competitions the courts whistle the winning by a
the courts whistle the winning by a
the courts whistle the winning by a second or losing a position by a
second or losing a position by a
second or losing a position by a microsecond the dirty changing rooms
microsecond the dirty changing rooms
microsecond the dirty changing rooms offered food during competitions the
offered food during competitions the
offered food during competitions the muscle pulls and the right flips we wear
muscle pulls and the right flips we wear
muscle pulls and the right flips we wear swimming caps so it’s the fit of five
swimming caps so it’s the fit of five
swimming caps so it’s the fit of five year old and then we wear medals soon we
year old and then we wear medals soon we
year old and then we wear medals soon we are told we’re champions we come on the
are told we’re champions we come on the
are told we’re champions we come on the sports page of the newspaper and before
sports page of the newspaper and before
sports page of the newspaper and before we know it we are a story a story lady
we know it we are a story a story lady
we know it we are a story a story lady handsome men of
handsome men of
handsome men of I became a record holding swimmer the
I became a record holding swimmer the
I became a record holding swimmer the story of the big shift from the swimming
story of the big shift from the swimming
story of the big shift from the swimming pool to the Arabian Sea with the Fatah
pool to the Arabian Sea with the Fatah
pool to the Arabian Sea with the Fatah Sagar Lake in between my life as a
Sagar Lake in between my life as a
Sagar Lake in between my life as a swimmer started when my mother took me
swimmer started when my mother took me
swimmer started when my mother took me to the play pool in great sec I wanted
to the play pool in great sec I wanted
to the play pool in great sec I wanted to participate in the district swimming
to participate in the district swimming
to participate in the district swimming championship I came back home excitedly
championship I came back home excitedly
championship I came back home excitedly to tell mama that I was one of the four
to tell mama that I was one of the four
to tell mama that I was one of the four girls selected from my school to
girls selected from my school to
girls selected from my school to participate in that championship and
participate in that championship and
participate in that championship and guess what she refused she just said no
guess what she refused she just said no
guess what she refused she just said no I was obviously too young to fathom the
I was obviously too young to fathom the
I was obviously too young to fathom the snow a protest against it when this
snow a protest against it when this
snow a protest against it when this competition ended I realized that girls
competition ended I realized that girls
competition ended I realized that girls who who was far behind me in the pool
who who was far behind me in the pool
who who was far behind me in the pool had one wrong and that girls who were
had one wrong and that girls who were
had one wrong and that girls who were slower than he had won measures as well
slower than he had won measures as well
slower than he had won measures as well I cried my heart out for the lost chance
I cried my heart out for the lost chance
I cried my heart out for the lost chance and won over my parents should let me
and won over my parents should let me
and won over my parents should let me participate in the district championship
participate in the district championship
participate in the district championship next year in grade 3 finally won my
next year in grade 3 finally won my
next year in grade 3 finally won my first bronze and silver medal in
first bronze and silver medal in
first bronze and silver medal in district level des GFI championship
district level des GFI championship
district level des GFI championship grateful decoyed better and finally in
grateful decoyed better and finally in
grateful decoyed better and finally in Griff
Griff
Griff I played my first grade tournament my
I played my first grade tournament my
I played my first grade tournament my training now got more demanding from
training now got more demanding from
training now got more demanding from tours in the evening we added an hour in
tours in the evening we added an hour in
tours in the evening we added an hour in the morning and some ground exercises to
the morning and some ground exercises to
the morning and some ground exercises to my routine changed early rising morning
my routine changed early rising morning
my routine changed early rising morning training school and then I had to
training school and then I had to
training school and then I had to practice at 5 in the evening I would
practice at 5 in the evening I would
practice at 5 in the evening I would literally nose off on the way back home
literally nose off on the way back home
literally nose off on the way back home but my hard work was rewarded I’ve been
but my hard work was rewarded I’ve been
but my hard work was rewarded I’ve been the district champion for the past four
the district champion for the past four
the district champion for the past four years and a national player from sixth
years and a national player from sixth
years and a national player from sixth onwards my seminar improved
onwards my seminar improved
onwards my seminar improved my swimming got better with every win
my swimming got better with every win
my swimming got better with every win came a little more motivation and a lot
came a little more motivation and a lot
came a little more motivation and a lot more seriousness and dedication my
more seriousness and dedication my
more seriousness and dedication my outings became rarer birthday parties
outings became rarer birthday parties
outings became rarer birthday parties disappeared from my calendar so that
disappeared from my calendar so that
disappeared from my calendar so that pizzas pani puris and burgers from my
pizzas pani puris and burgers from my
pizzas pani puris and burgers from my food menu all that I made a face hat was
food menu all that I made a face hat was
food menu all that I made a face hat was my best friend that’s the thing about
my best friend that’s the thing about
my best friend that’s the thing about individual sports you do what you want
individual sports you do what you want
individual sports you do what you want to but I think in a way that’s also good
to but I think in a way that’s also good
to but I think in a way that’s also good you can do it in the way that you want
you can do it in the way that you want
you can do it in the way that you want to do it so after six years of
to do it so after six years of
to do it so after six years of competitive swimming fifties hundreds to
competitive swimming fifties hundreds to
competitive swimming fifties hundreds to hundreds in breaststroke freestyle and
hundreds in breaststroke freestyle and
hundreds in breaststroke freestyle and butterfly in sometimes green and mostly
butterfly in sometimes green and mostly
butterfly in sometimes green and mostly dirty pools
dirty pools
dirty pools I was on a winning speed named Mike
I was on a winning speed named Mike
I was on a winning speed named Mike tells me to swim a kilometer stretch in
tells me to swim a kilometer stretch in
tells me to swim a kilometer stretch in the FATA sagar lake for the lay festival
the FATA sagar lake for the lay festival
the FATA sagar lake for the lay festival to be held in january 2017 the father
to be held in january 2017 the father
to be held in january 2017 the father saw a girl as beautiful as it may seem
saw a girl as beautiful as it may seem
saw a girl as beautiful as it may seem to the tourists I is V the city people
to the tourists I is V the city people
to the tourists I is V the city people have seen clothes being washed garbage
have seen clothes being washed garbage
have seen clothes being washed garbage being discarded and sometimes the
being discarded and sometimes the
being discarded and sometimes the fellows relieving themselves of the heat
fellows relieving themselves of the heat
fellows relieving themselves of the heat in the summers can you imagine what that
in the summers can you imagine what that
in the summers can you imagine what that implies on a 13 year old as finicky as
implies on a 13 year old as finicky as
implies on a 13 year old as finicky as can be I wouldn’t walk barefoot at the
can be I wouldn’t walk barefoot at the
can be I wouldn’t walk barefoot at the poolside or enter the dirty changing
poolside or enter the dirty changing
poolside or enter the dirty changing rooms and now I was told to jump in the
rooms and now I was told to jump in the
rooms and now I was told to jump in the lake and that do in winters so finally I
lake and that do in winters so finally I
lake and that do in winters so finally I participated in the race and won –
participated in the race and won –
participated in the race and won – though it was a race for over 19 years
though it was a race for over 19 years
though it was a race for over 19 years old and I did not get the prize money
old and I did not get the prize money
old and I did not get the prize money it surely opened my door to open water
it surely opened my door to open water
it surely opened my door to open water long distance swimming in a week’s time
long distance swimming in a week’s time
long distance swimming in a week’s time my mother and coach were discussing a 16
my mother and coach were discussing a 16
my mother and coach were discussing a 16 kilometer and then a 36 kilometres swim
kilometer and then a 36 kilometres swim
kilometer and then a 36 kilometres swim sea swimming is not new to India but
sea swimming is not new to India but
sea swimming is not new to India but open sea swimming is what has been swam
open sea swimming is what has been swam
open sea swimming is what has been swam for decades is the creek or the harbor
for decades is the creek or the harbor
for decades is the creek or the harbor the harem the alley bog and some other
the harem the alley bog and some other
the harem the alley bog and some other routes people often ask me if this not
routes people often ask me if this not
routes people often ask me if this not so no sea swim was scary the vastness
so no sea swim was scary the vastness
so no sea swim was scary the vastness the death the sea animals and the
the death the sea animals and the
the death the sea animals and the synonymous and the waves but for me it
synonymous and the waves but for me it
synonymous and the waves but for me it wasn’t it felt just like home home with
wasn’t it felt just like home home with
wasn’t it felt just like home home with her through a roller coaster in the
her through a roller coaster in the
her through a roller coaster in the garden the thrill of an adventure
garden the thrill of an adventure
garden the thrill of an adventure with the comfort of knowing that the
with the comfort of knowing that the
with the comfort of knowing that the what keep me buoyant it is and will my
what keep me buoyant it is and will my
what keep me buoyant it is and will my favorite place to be
favorite place to be
favorite place to be so before I know it I was in Mumbai
so before I know it I was in Mumbai
so before I know it I was in Mumbai looking out at the Arabian Sea I put in
looking out at the Arabian Sea I put in
looking out at the Arabian Sea I put in all my energies to accomplish what I had
all my energies to accomplish what I had
all my energies to accomplish what I had set for myself I truly believe that if
set for myself I truly believe that if
set for myself I truly believe that if you dream and dream that you must you
you dream and dream that you must you
you dream and dream that you must you have all the energies in the world to
have all the energies in the world to
have all the energies in the world to accomplish it just dream work hard
accomplish it just dream work hard
accomplish it just dream work hard believe and do not cheat so I had a
believe and do not cheat so I had a
believe and do not cheat so I had a three-day training prior to my 16
three-day training prior to my 16
three-day training prior to my 16 kilometer swim and I luckily got a calm
kilometer swim and I luckily got a calm
kilometer swim and I luckily got a calm sea a high tide and a windy love sea and
sea a high tide and a windy love sea and
sea a high tide and a windy love sea and I was now more prepared than ever hour
I was now more prepared than ever hour
I was now more prepared than ever hour going I’d said myself was to swim 16
going I’d said myself was to swim 16
going I’d said myself was to swim 16 kilometer and then 36 kilometer off the
kilometer and then 36 kilometer off the
kilometer and then 36 kilometer off the coast of Mumbai in the Arabian Sea but
coast of Mumbai in the Arabian Sea but
coast of Mumbai in the Arabian Sea but nothing in the world had prepared me for
nothing in the world had prepared me for
nothing in the world had prepared me for the cold
the cold
the cold waves thrashing against me the debris of
waves thrashing against me the debris of
waves thrashing against me the debris of discarded plastic bags rotten fruits and
discarded plastic bags rotten fruits and
discarded plastic bags rotten fruits and even the caucus of a rat all over is the
even the caucus of a rat all over is the
even the caucus of a rat all over is the nauseating smell of oil spills so in
nauseating smell of oil spills so in
nauseating smell of oil spills so in March 24th 2017 I was supposed to do my
March 24th 2017 I was supposed to do my
March 24th 2017 I was supposed to do my first swim
first swim
first swim I either heavy cop tired a night prior
I either heavy cop tired a night prior
I either heavy cop tired a night prior get up early finished my warmup and
get up early finished my warmup and
get up early finished my warmup and reach I can check on my stuff to be
reach I can check on my stuff to be
reach I can check on my stuff to be taken to the jetty where my observer was
taken to the jetty where my observer was
taken to the jetty where my observer was waiting for me from Mumbai Aquatic
waiting for me from Mumbai Aquatic
waiting for me from Mumbai Aquatic Association who was supposed to verify
Association who was supposed to verify
Association who was supposed to verify my swim with everyone’s blessings we
my swim with everyone’s blessings we
my swim with everyone’s blessings we jumped onto the fisherman’s board I’d
jumped onto the fisherman’s board I’d
jumped onto the fisherman’s board I’d arrived in from the governor house and
arrived in from the governor house and
arrived in from the governor house and finished at the Gateway of India to
finished at the Gateway of India to
finished at the Gateway of India to finish being the fourth to swim the open
finish being the fourth to swim the open
finish being the fourth to swim the open sea route and make a record of three
sea route and make a record of three
sea route and make a record of three hours and 58 minutes at the Gateway of
hours and 58 minutes at the Gateway of
hours and 58 minutes at the Gateway of India I was created by my family and
India I was created by my family and
India I was created by my family and friends I like being the first girl to
friends I like being the first girl to
friends I like being the first girl to accomplish a feat but I liked it even
accomplish a feat but I liked it even
accomplish a feat but I liked it even better to meet all the boys and raise up
better to meet all the boys and raise up
better to meet all the boys and raise up to be the first to set that open sea
to be the first to set that open sea
to be the first to set that open sea record I was happy yes but even more
record I was happy yes but even more
record I was happy yes but even more excited for the next swim after four
excited for the next swim after four
excited for the next swim after four days the 37 kilometres for a day I must
days the 37 kilometres for a day I must
days the 37 kilometres for a day I must have rested but then had to get up for
have rested but then had to get up for
have rested but then had to get up for my warm-up in the building pools
my warm-up in the building pools
my warm-up in the building pools downstairs or that swim and it was the
downstairs or that swim and it was the
downstairs or that swim and it was the most boring swim I’ve ever done and
most boring swim I’ve ever done and
most boring swim I’ve ever done and longed to go back to the sea the way the
longed to go back to the sea the way the
longed to go back to the sea the way the excitement and the thrill like last time
excitement and the thrill like last time
excitement and the thrill like last time my meals managed my sleeping time rising
my meals managed my sleeping time rising
my meals managed my sleeping time rising time warm ups etc and we start off with
time warm ups etc and we start off with
time warm ups etc and we start off with more will more prayers at the jetty we
more will more prayers at the jetty we
more will more prayers at the jetty we are told that the types of it so we
are told that the types of it so we
are told that the types of it so we would have to wait impatiently we waited
would have to wait impatiently we waited
would have to wait impatiently we waited for an hour towards 3 hours and finally
for an hour towards 3 hours and finally
for an hour towards 3 hours and finally at 11 p.m. we reached the valley sea
at 11 p.m. we reached the valley sea
at 11 p.m. we reached the valley sea link under the scorching hot Sun we
link under the scorching hot Sun we
link under the scorching hot Sun we started off I am stay slathered with
started off I am stay slathered with
started off I am stay slathered with Vaseline split a coconut pray to God and
Vaseline split a coconut pray to God and
Vaseline split a coconut pray to God and at the core of my whistle I die when I
at the core of my whistle I die when I
at the core of my whistle I die when I must have barely swarm around 300 meters
must have barely swarm around 300 meters
must have barely swarm around 300 meters when I realized that my
when I realized that my
when I realized that my surveillance boat was nowhere inside it
surveillance boat was nowhere inside it
surveillance boat was nowhere inside it was a sharp moment of flash panic as I
was a sharp moment of flash panic as I
was a sharp moment of flash panic as I stand rooted and terrified
stand rooted and terrified
stand rooted and terrified this was Ocean in front of me and I
this was Ocean in front of me and I
this was Ocean in front of me and I can’t see a single person around me four
can’t see a single person around me four
can’t see a single person around me four kilometers I was now almost three
kilometers I was now almost three
kilometers I was now almost three kilometers away from my parents or any
kilometers away from my parents or any
kilometers away from my parents or any other individual somewhere far off I
other individual somewhere far off I
other individual somewhere far off I suddenly heard my coach shouting for me
suddenly heard my coach shouting for me
suddenly heard my coach shouting for me to swim on and I knew to swim on was my
to swim on and I knew to swim on was my
to swim on and I knew to swim on was my chosen way and to stop wasn’t even an
chosen way and to stop wasn’t even an
chosen way and to stop wasn’t even an option the waves were bundled I like the
option the waves were bundled I like the
option the waves were bundled I like the veers rising three to four feet high and
veers rising three to four feet high and
veers rising three to four feet high and dropping me back on a jelly spongy sea
dropping me back on a jelly spongy sea
dropping me back on a jelly spongy sea only to rise again you have to rush of
only to rise again you have to rush of
only to rise again you have to rush of adrenaline on your own you cannot reach
adrenaline on your own you cannot reach
adrenaline on your own you cannot reach there until you’ve broken your
there until you’ve broken your
there until you’ve broken your boundaries of fear and challenged
boundaries of fear and challenged
boundaries of fear and challenged yourself to come out a winner my speed
yourself to come out a winner my speed
yourself to come out a winner my speed was better than expected the Sun a
was better than expected the Sun a
was better than expected the Sun a little too strong it being hardly my
little too strong it being hardly my
little too strong it being hardly my concern because I was busy realizing my
concern because I was busy realizing my
concern because I was busy realizing my dream of being the youngest girl from
dream of being the youngest girl from
dream of being the youngest girl from Rajasthan to attempt the waves at 4:30
Rajasthan to attempt the waves at 4:30
Rajasthan to attempt the waves at 4:30 p.m. and he swam 25 kilometers and I was
p.m. and he swam 25 kilometers and I was
p.m. and he swam 25 kilometers and I was charged but nature has its own way the
charged but nature has its own way the
charged but nature has its own way the ties changed and the sea was flowing
ties changed and the sea was flowing
ties changed and the sea was flowing backwards now I was told to keep up my
backwards now I was told to keep up my
backwards now I was told to keep up my speed but I could literally feel being
speed but I could literally feel being
speed but I could literally feel being pulled back for an hour or so I kept
pulled back for an hour or so I kept
pulled back for an hour or so I kept near I kept struggling near the
near I kept struggling near the
near I kept struggling near the lighthouse that wouldn’t let me swim on
lighthouse that wouldn’t let me swim on
lighthouse that wouldn’t let me swim on can you imagine
can you imagine
can you imagine yep I’m putting in more effort than you
yep I’m putting in more effort than you
yep I’m putting in more effort than you did before fling your hands and legs but
did before fling your hands and legs but
did before fling your hands and legs but you just can’t move on
you just can’t move on
you just can’t move on I was now getting frustrated and
I was now getting frustrated and
I was now getting frustrated and exhausted my parents coach everyone
exhausted my parents coach everyone
exhausted my parents coach everyone tried to keep my spirits high but I was
tried to keep my spirits high but I was
tried to keep my spirits high but I was getting dehydrated after a gap the
getting dehydrated after a gap the
getting dehydrated after a gap the Gateway could be noticed over the
Gateway could be noticed over the
Gateway could be noticed over the horizon soon the buildings and then the
horizon soon the buildings and then the
horizon soon the buildings and then the board’s this was motivating because I
board’s this was motivating because I
board’s this was motivating because I could see my destination in front of my
could see my destination in front of my
could see my destination in front of my eyes now I was nearing the gateway and
eyes now I was nearing the gateway and
eyes now I was nearing the gateway and the water was very filthy however I
the water was very filthy however I
the water was very filthy however I wanted to focus on the steps of the
wanted to focus on the steps of the
wanted to focus on the steps of the Gateway that I wanted to touch the
Gateway that I wanted to touch the
Gateway that I wanted to touch the soonest I could at 6:30 a.m. in a record
soonest I could at 6:30 a.m. in a record
soonest I could at 6:30 a.m. in a record time of 6 hours and 35 minutes I finally
time of 6 hours and 35 minutes I finally
time of 6 hours and 35 minutes I finally finished my swim reaching reaching the
finished my swim reaching reaching the
finished my swim reaching reaching the shore
shore
shore family friends media almost everyone had
family friends media almost everyone had
family friends media almost everyone had a word of appreciation I was overjoyed a
a word of appreciation I was overjoyed a
a word of appreciation I was overjoyed a goal achieved a point proven but a
goal achieved a point proven but a
goal achieved a point proven but a little empty to because all that I had
little empty to because all that I had
little empty to because all that I had done for the past months was sleepwalked
done for the past months was sleepwalked
done for the past months was sleepwalked of this film it didn’t feel as big in
of this film it didn’t feel as big in
of this film it didn’t feel as big in the beginning but slowly when it sank in
the beginning but slowly when it sank in
the beginning but slowly when it sank in it definitely felt great to be the first
it definitely felt great to be the first
it definitely felt great to be the first to open a sea route ladies and gentlemen
to open a sea route ladies and gentlemen
to open a sea route ladies and gentlemen this is my story so far of just swimming
this is my story so far of just swimming
this is my story so far of just swimming story of the collection of caps and
story of the collection of caps and
story of the collection of caps and medals and t-shirts the story of not
medals and t-shirts the story of not
medals and t-shirts the story of not really being able to put into words how
really being able to put into words how
really being able to put into words how the meat went story I live for the
the meat went story I live for the
the meat went story I live for the practice the pain
practice the pain
practice the pain Jotham please the feeling of fulfillment
Jotham please the feeling of fulfillment
Jotham please the feeling of fulfillment and achievement too enmeshed early on
and achievement too enmeshed early on
and achievement too enmeshed early on singularity today I would like to quote
singularity today I would like to quote
singularity today I would like to quote Eminem if you had one shot one
Eminem if you had one shot one
Eminem if you had one shot one opportunity to win everything you could
opportunity to win everything you could
opportunity to win everything you could in one moment
in one moment
in one moment just let it capture you let it split and
just let it capture you let it split and
just let it capture you let it split and lose yourself thank
lose yourself thank
lose yourself thank [Applause]
”
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