My Story
My name is Sriram Srinivas. I was diagnosed with multiple disabilities — 90% loco-motor disability and 83% mental retardation, according to my disability certificate. This means I can't stand or walk without support, and my movements are very limited.
As a child, I had delayed developmental milestones and was bedridden until the age of 10. My parents introduced me to swimming to help strengthen my legs. At that time, I often vented my frustration, anger, and disappointment on them — especially as I realized I couldn't run or play like other children.
Even though I struggled emotionally, my parents chose to understand what I was going through. Like many parents of children with disabilities, they felt helpless and uncertain about my future. But they never gave up. They kept training me in swimming and cycling, hoping it would help me get stronger physically.
Never Give Up
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". 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. 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.
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. 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. WORLD RECORDS UNION An Official Registrar of World Records R SRIRAM SRINIVAS an SDAT athlete, participated and swam a distance of 21.05 Nautical Miles (20 KM) in the record attempt maximum distance covered in an open sea multi-stage swimming expedition by children with special needs and various disabilities achieved by the team "WAVE RIDERS” under the guidance of Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, Chennai wherein 15 children covered 326.134 Nautical Miles (604 KM) in 11 Days from Mandapam Beach (Rameswaram) Tamil Nadu to Marina Beach(Chennai) Tamil Nadu, India between 5th August to 15th August 2024
OCEAN SEA EXPEDITION
Conducted by: NCC Directorate of TN, AN & P.
There is also edited a short video on him with the videos taken when he swam 5km at sea during the OCEAN SEA EXPEDITION conducted by the NCC Directorate of TN, AN & P.
World Records
