Currently a final year undergrad student at the Florida University (USA), Ahmedabad-born Aryan Nehra (21) is a promising swimming champion with over 100 state, national and international aquatic championship medals and trophies displayed on his mantelpiece at home. In February at the 38th National Games of India staged in Uttarakhand, this Gujarat merman who specialises in the 800m, 1500m freestyle and 400m individual medley events returned home with three silver and four bronze medals.
At the 11th Asian Age Group Aquatic Championships 2024 held in New Clark City (Philippines) a year earlier, Aryan was a member of the 4x200m freestyle relay team that set a new national record clocking 7:26:64 seconds, and won one gold and three silver medals.
The elder child of civil servant Vijay Nehra, and educator Suman, Aryan first took to water in a hotel pool. Exulted by the experience, he started competitive swimming at age nine and signed up for training at the Gujarat Vidyapith Academy, Ahmedabad under the tutelage of coach Kamlesh Nanavati. Aryan’s younger sister Anaya is also a competitive swimmer.
In 2021, when he was admitted to University of Florida as a student athlete to study economics, he was promptly inducted into the university’s swimming squad, and trained under legendary coach Anthony Nesty, a 1988 Olympic gold medalist. Under Nesty’s tutelage, Aryan’s training has intensified to “six rigorous hours every day” including a daily two-hour gym session to develop appropriate strength and muscle conditioning. “My success is due to all my coaches in Florida, and the Inspire Institute of Sport in Bellary (Karnataka). Also to my family members who encourage and cheer me. I am also grateful to Florida University for giving me academic flexibility to train for championships,” acknowledges Aryan, who was awarded a cash prize of Rs.1 crore by the Gujarat state government last year.
Though pleased with his progress, Aryan is far from satisfied. “I have a long way to go. I am aware that I must continuously improve my training and timings. I have set myself the goal to work towards an A cut for the LA Olympics 2028, and at least a podium finish at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya (Japan) next year,” says this modest champion, who has stiff upstream swimming ahead.
