Olympian Virdhawal Khade Bids Farewell to Indian Swimming at National Games
Virdhawal Khade, the renowned Indian Olympic swimmer, announced this week that the National Games in India would mark his final competitive event in the country, signifying the end of an illustrious career for one of India’s most celebrated swimmers.
During interviews conducted at the 37th National Games, Khade carefully avoided using the term “retirement.” His exceptional performances, clinching victories in the men’s 50 butterfly and 50 freestyle, showcased that even at the age of 32, he remains one of the nation’s top swimmers. Despite this, Khade highlighted the increasing physical toll that a swimming career has taken.
Reflecting on his more than two decades in the pool, Khade expressed, “At heart, I still feel young, but my body is feeling fatigued now. Many years have passed, and I have swum extensively during this span. My recovery is not as swift as it used to be. While I could effortlessly complete 10 events in the past, even participating in three events now feels like a monumental task. Nevertheless, I still relish the rush of nerves before a race, and I believe that feeling will never leave me.”
In addition, Khade affirmed, “This was my final event in India. Perhaps you might see me again as a coach in the future, but this was undeniably my last competitive race here.”
Khade made history for India at the tender age of 16 when he qualified for the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Although he won a heat in the 100 butterfly, he did not progress past the preliminaries. Since then, he has not participated in any Olympic Games.
In 2010, Khade achieved another significant milestone by becoming the first Indian swimmer to medal at the Asian Games in over two decades. He secured a bronze medal in the men’s 50 fly event held in Guangzhou. With a staggering nine gold medals at the South Asian Games and a total of 13 medals between 2006 and 2019, Khade belongs to a new generation of talented swimmers that have the potential to elevate India’s presence on the global swimming stage. He also competed in the Commonwealth Games in both 2010 and 2018, finishing in sixth place in the men’s 50 fly event during the former.
Khade currently holds national records in the men’s 50 free, 100 free (set during the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games when the controversial super-suit was allowed), as well as the 50 fly and 100 fly.
Even now, Khade continues to perform exceptionally well. Clocking in at just 22.82 seconds, he claimed victory in the men’s 50 free, narrowly surpassing Tokyo Olympian Srihari Nataraj. This time also shattered his previous record of 23.00, achieved at the 2015 National Games in Kerala. Furthermore, Khade’s wife, Rujuta Khade, distinguished herself in the women’s 50 free event by setting a new National Games record of 26.42 seconds.
Adding to his list of achievements, Khade triumphed in the men’s 50 fly event with a remarkable time of 24.60 seconds, reducing his own Games record by 0.13 seconds. In addition, he secured a bronze medal as part of the Maharashtra team in the 400 free relay event.
On previous occasions, Khade had hinted at the possibility of retirement. As part of his post-competition plans, he has already delved into coaching endeavors in Mumbai.
The National Games victory in Goa is symbolic in many ways, serving as a fitting finale for Khade’s esteemed career.
Reflecting on the significance of his gold medal, Khade remarked, “What makes this medal even more special is that I won my first national medal back in 2001 in Goa. Today, it feels like life has come full circle with this gold medal at my final Nationals here in Goa. Back then, I could never have envisioned becoming the accomplished swimmer that I am today, so I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the coaches and individuals who have played a part in this extraordinary journey.”
