Swapnil Kusale: From Impatience to Olympic Glory

Born as the son of a district schoolteacher and the sarpanch of a village, Swapnil Kusale set his sights on a sport that involved patience and precision - shooting. He started off at the age of 14 with the assistance of a Maharashtra government's "Krida Prabhodini" scheme.

Deepali Deshpande, his coach, aptly described Kusale as a quiet and determined individual who seldom shared his thoughts. His obstinacy at times cost him due to impatience, including a close call at the fourth place in the 2023 Asian Games.

However, Kusale’s defining moment came during the 2024 Paris Olympics. He kept his nerves in check to win the Bronze medal in the competitive men’s rifle 3 positions, marking it as the first time for India in this long-form event and the third medal at Paris Olympics. This win substantially contributed to India's best single games shooting haul.

Kusale's journey through this high-intensity event was neither smooth nor straightforward. He had to climb up the leaderboard from sixth position, eventually placing himself as a contender for a medal in the final round. Despite initial setbacks like scoring a poor series of 9.1 and 10.1, he bounced back to secure a firm position with a series of 10.3 and 10.5. 

During the event, Kusale remained calm and collected, consciously deciding to ignore the pressure of the scoreboard and focusing instead on his own performance. Such focused approach, honed through years of training, was testament to the mental toughness of the 28-year-old shooter. 

His journey began from humble beginnings as a ticket collector with Railways, balancing his job along with the sport, due to its high expenditure and his family conditions. An important part of his success, Kusale admits, were his coaches and supporting staff who provided him with the necessary emotional assistance.

His rise through the ranks was relatively slow. He had a habit of being doggedly persistent in his approach, a characteristic identified by his coach as a hurdles for his growth. But with time and perseverance, he learned to harness his patience - which Kusale now counts as a key quality in his hard-earned Olympic success.