Bengaluru Athlete's NCAA Gold: A Story of Family Sacrifice and Triumph
For Lokesh Sathyanathan, a 26-year-old athlete from Bengaluru, last week's competition in Fayetteville, Arkansas, represented a monumental leap—both literally and figuratively. His extraordinary jump of 8.21 meters not only secured him the NCAA gold medal but also established a new national indoor record for India, ranking as the third-best performance ever by an Indian long jumper.
A Father's Sacrifice and a Family's Dream
Behind this stunning achievement lies a deeply emotional narrative of immense sacrifice. Lokesh's father, Sathyanathan, who works as a taxi driver in Bengaluru, made the difficult decision to sell jewellery worth ten lakh rupees along with the family car to finance his son's education and athletic pursuits in the United States. This victory, therefore, transcends mere athletic success; it stands as the most rewarding outcome imaginable for a family that bet everything on their son's potential.
Overcoming Personal Tragedy and Depression
Lokesh's journey to the podium at Tarleton State University in Texas is marked by remarkable resilience. He endured a significant personal setback with the loss of his mother, Felcy Mary, to Covid-19, which plunged him into a battle with depression. His sister, S Monica, a national-level athlete in the women's 400m hurdles, revealed that it took nearly a year of medical assistance and emotional recovery for Lokesh to return to training.
"It was not easy when I heard that my mom was no more," Lokesh confessed from Texas. "My whole world went still, and then it began to hit me that she is no more. I was blank mentally. Then I started telling myself, I know that she is not there, but what can I do to make her happy? I want to do things to fulfil her dreams and keep her happy wherever she is."
He added, "She is always with me, guiding me and taking care of me. So I now know that she has physically left me, but she is always with me spiritually."
Foundation Built on Generosity and Support
Long before his American success, Lokesh's athletic foundation was laid in Bengaluru under the dedicated guidance of M Muralidharan, a former Asian silver medallist. For twelve years, Muralidharan trained Lokesh at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium without charging any fees, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to nurturing young talent.
Monica emphasized that the sacrifices extended beyond their father, including their mother and aunt L Vasagi, all of whom played crucial roles in enabling Lokesh's career to take fresh wings in the USA.
Joining an Elite Group of Indian Champions
With this victory, Lokesh Sathyanathan has joined an exclusive list of Indian athletes who have claimed NCAA titles, a prestigious group that includes Mohinder Singh Gill in triple jump, Vikas Gowda in discus throw, and Tejaswin Shankar in high jump. His story is a powerful testament to grit, relentless hard work, and the profound impact of familial support in the face of adversity.
