Indian Para-Swimmer
Born in SATARA, Maharashtra, on November 27, 2001, vaishnavi was diagnosed with disease “spina bifida with myelomeningocele” which resulted in inability to use 75 percent of her body. The doctors prescribed physiotherapy and she began taking swimming lessons when she was four years old. However, since she developed an interest in swimming, she has never looked back. she has earned ‘37’ gold medals, 2 silver medals & 4 bronze medals in state, national level competitions. She also represented India in three International level Competitions (Pacific Para Championship, USA -2014, Asian Youth Para Games, Dubai -2017 & Common Wealth Games, Australia-2018) up to 2018, the first in Pan Pacific Para Championship-2014 when she was just 13 years old.
Vaishnavi Vinod Jagtap
Indian Para-Swimmer (2001–)
Indian Para-Swimmer, Vaishnavi Jagtap competed in three International level Competitions, the first in 2014 when she was just 13 years old. Even though, Not being able to use 75 percent of her body, including her legs, she has never stopped from dreaming of, and achieving ‘37’ gold medals, 2 silver medals & 4 bronze medals in state, national level competitions.
Vaishnavi Vinod Jagtap born in Satara, Maharashtra, India on November 27, 2001. At the time of birth, She was having weight 3 ¼ pound which less than normal (5 pound) weight of newly born baby. Her spinal cord failed to develop properly, while in the womb. She was diagnosed with disease named as “spina bifida with mylomenigocele”. This disease affects body parts waist down, resulting in loss of strength and sense in that region. She undergone first Spinal Cord Surgery at the age of 5 months (March 2002). Due to some limitations in recovery, she had to face another surgery at the age of three years. Dr, Charudatta Apte (Neurosurgeon), conducted his second surgery in 2004 at Sahyadri Hospital, Pune. In short, she suffered from major surgeries in her early childhood. The doctors prescribed physiotherapy and she began taking swimming lessons when she was four years old.
Her parents Uma & Vinod left no stone unturned in the hope that she would start walking on her own feet one day. But, since she developed an interest in swimming, she has never looked back. She started to take part in locally organized swimming competitions. Every day practice was improving her swimming skills day-by-day.
At the age of 10, she earned three gold medals in state level competition for first time in 2012. She held first position in Sub-Juniors S-2 Free Style 50m, Backstroke 50m & Breaststroke 50m. This state level competition boosted her confidence. She earned 3 Gold and 1 Bronze medals in national level competition held at Chennai in the same year. Afterwards she kept on earning medals in State and National level competitions. She also earned Individual Championship trophies along with medals. She has earned ‘37’ gold medals, 2 silver medals & 4 bronze medals in state, national, international level competitions.
She also represented India in three International level Competitions (Pacific Para Championship, USA -2014, Asian Youth Para Games, Dubai -2017 & Common Wealth Games, Australia-2018) up to 2018, the first in Pan Pacific Para Championship-2014 when she was just 13 years old. In 2014, she debuted for first time in International Level Competition. She qualified from open category for Final in Pan Pacific Para-Swimming Championship 2014. She ended up with sixth rank in 1.41.14 min for Sub-Juniors S-8 Free Style100m. She qualified for final in category of 50m free style at Asian Youth Para Games-2017 held in Dubai. She represented India at Common Wealth Games-2018 held at Gold Coast, Australia. She got sixth rank in Junior S-8 Free Style 50m category. At the same time, she managed to appear for her SSC exam and obtained good marks. She participated in 2km Sea Swimming Competition in January 2017. She earned fifth rank in open category & first rank in Handicap Category. This is just beginning or starting chapter of her career in swimming.
