R. SRIRAM SRINIVAS

Sriram Srinivas with 90% LocoMotor disability and 83% Mental retardation has achieved remarkable success in long distance open water swimming.
He holds the world record as the first person with multiple disabilities to swim across the Palk Strait (30km). A National Award recipient, he inspires with his determination and trailblazing spirit.

(A swimming athlete identified with multiple disability)

Sriram Srinivas is a person who was diagnosed with multiple disabilities. He is identified with 90% Loco-Motor disability and 83% Mental retardation. He will not be able to stand or walk without any external/additional support and his movements are severely restricted. His legs are affected and are spastic with restricted range of movements. His swimming style is limited to breast strokes, which is much tougher to do. Despite his disability he has several achievements and recognitions at the state, national and international level in the field of swimming. Sriram Srinivas is the “World’s First person identified with multiple disability to swim across Palk Strait – 30Km”.

SRIRAM SRINIVAS – “World’s First person identified with multiple disability to swim across Palk Strait 30km” - April 2023

Swimming is a therapeutic activity for those with cerebral palsy, as it can help improve muscle strength, coordination and provides low impact form of exercise that is easier on the joints. However, completing a marathon distance of 30Km in open water is no easy feat. It requires extensive training, mental fortitude and physical endurance. This becomes an incredible achievement especially when the odds are against you, such as Sriram Srinivas, a person who was diagnosed with multiple disabilities.
Despite his multiple disabilities it is remarkable that Sriram Srinivas has achieved this feat of swimming 30km across the Palk Strait. He swam non-stop between Thalaimannar (Sri Lanka) to Dhanushkodi (India) and has covered the distance in 20 hours and 20 minutes. He started at 5:10pm on 12th April 2023 and covered the distance by 1:30pm on 13th April 2023. Now Sriram Srinivas can be proudly identified as the “World’s First person identified with multiple disability to swim across Palk Strait”
This is an achievement that deserves recognition and appreciation, not just for the physical challenge but also for the perseverance, determination, and inspiration it represents. Due to his neurological conditions, it is a big challenge even for his day-to-day activities to him. With such restrictions he was determined to push himself to the limit and accomplish this incredible feat which many of us would even not dream of. Sriram has showed us that anything is possible with hard work, persistence, resilience, strength and determination in the face of adversity. It is a testament to his courage and willingness to push himself beyond his limits, as true to his undying spirit of never giving up. With this achievement of Sriram Srinivas stands a testament to the power of human spirit and serves as an inspiration to many others to strive for their dreams.
Though he had all credentials and performance parameters under his belt at selection events, Sriram Srinivas was not selected twice to represent our country, India at Special Olympics 2019 and Special Olympics 2023, as India does not have representation in Open Water Swimming category. After being rejected, as is his undying spirit of NEVER GIVING UP, he channelised his energy to focus on long distance open water swimming in which he added further glory to his name by creating and achieving many records, awards, laurels, and recognitions. His most notable achievements are:
1. World’s First person identified with multiple disability to swim across Palk Strait – 30Km April 2023. Despite his multiple disabilities it is remarkable that Sriram Srinivas has achieved this feat of swimming 30km across the Palk Strait. He swam non-stop between Thalaimannar (Sri Lanka) to Dhanushkodi (India) and has a covered the distance non-stop in 20 hours and 20 minutes. 2. Young Achiever Award 2022 for swimming 10KM in Open sea Samudra Pheri – Ocean Sailing Expedition 2022 conducted by NCC Directorate of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & Andaman and Nicobar (Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India). It was awarded by the honourable Chief Minister of Puducherry, Shri.N.Rangaswamy on 16th June 2022 3. NATIONAL AWARD for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities 2018 under “Role Model Category – Multiple Disabilities from our honourable Vice-President of India, Shri Venkaiah Naidu on the 3rd of December 2018. It was awarded by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. 4. Young Achiever Award 2018 for swimming 5KM in Open sea during Samudra Pheri – Ocean Sailing Expedition 2018 conducted by NCC Directorate of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & Andaman and Nicobar (Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India). It was awarded by the Chief of NCC Directorate of TN, P & AN

A SHORT FILM - “NEVER GIVE UP 2.0”

A short film on Sriram Srinivas’s life struggles was documented and released in the year 2018. It captures his life struggles until 2018. It is available in the youtube in the name “NEVER GIVE UP 2.0” https://youtu.be/FNhkAYOTh4s This short film clearly documents, how Sriram Srinivas rose above ordinary and won several laurels after being rejected to represent our country at Special Olympics 2019.

Extending the Horizon: 10Km in OPEN SEA SWIMMING 2022

During the “Samudra Pheri – Ocean Sailing Expedition 2022” conducted by the NCC Directorate of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & Andaman and Nicobar (Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India) Sriram swam 10Km on 16th June 2022. The event was flagged of by the Honourable Lt. Governor of Puducherry Tamilisai Soundarrajan. On the 16th of June 2022, he was felicitated by the Honourable Chief Minister of Puducherry, Shri N.Rangaswamy for his successful completion of swimming 10Km at Open Sea

A biography documenting all of Sriram’s struggles and his way towards achievements was written by Dr.Arnesh Garg in 2021 and it was rightly named as “Beyond Limits”. The book available on online platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart. The idea behind the book is to inspire many special children and their parents that disability cannot stand as a barrier to their success in life. With more than 40 medals, awards and recognitions in swimming, bocce & modelling at state, national & international level, not to forget how he was rejected to represent India at the Special Olympics 2019 despite his performances and credentials, Sriram Srinivas rose above ordinary and stood tall inspiring many who come across his way. He simply exemplifies a never give up attitude and the will power to go beyond limits to achieve in life.

Amazon Link: Beyond-Limits-Little-Belief-They

Flipkart Link: Beyond-limits