City girl Amita Gondi made a splash at the sub junior national aquatics championships in Panaji, Goa, recently, bagging three gold medals and a bronze. In the beach-bound State, AP’s swiftest swimmer emerged as ‘India’s fastest sub-junior.’
She struck gold in the 50 metre freestyle, 50 metre butterfly and 100 metres butterfly stroke besides bagging a bronze in the 100 metre freestlye.
Barely six when she made her first foray into a swimming pool, she had wholehearted support from her dad Ramesh, coaches Suresh and Rajendra at the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) complex pool in Gachibowli.
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“I was keen on an individual event,” says the Oakridge School student, who is also a national number three in squash. “I am ready for any sport. I’m also gearing up for squash competitions. When the swimming season is on, I train morning and evening every day but bring it down to four times a week in the off-season,” says Amita.
Role model
Melissa Jeanette Franklin, the four time Olympic gold medallist is Amita’s role model.
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“Not only does she excel at sport, but ‘Missy’ (as the famous swimmer is better known) is good at academics too. That’s how my parents want me to be,” she says.