Will of Steel Bhakti Sharma

This post has won the contest  JSW #WillOfSteel contest. 

“I started the journey the destination was unknown. 

Struggling my way up the hill and often rolling down…

With a forward pace and sometimes a reluctant slow…

Often walking in the dark towards an indistinct goal…

My travels were filled with endless efforts and moments of despair…

But they also brought tears of joy and millions of memories to share…”

Bhakti Sharma, age 25, an Indian open-water swimmer speaks about her Indescribable journey of swimming and her adventures achievements through a small poem at a TED talk.

If you are not aware of Bhakti Sharma, please do watch the video which is exclusively made for her.

Ice water swimming

I feel her entire journey must be strenuous. We would not be able to touch cold water. Practicing in ice cold water every day morning and swimming in cold water for more than 13 hours would definitely require intimidate. Breaking the world record at Antarctica is not an easy one. Due to the freezing temperature and antagonistic environment of Antarctica, there is a high danger of heart attack and hypothermia.

Imagine, there is ice everywhere, how are you going to swim?  So frightening. Isn't ? All I could do is, stop my imagination and continue my work. But Bhakti Sharma has swum against the 0-2 degrees water temperature to set/break the world record.

These achievements must have come after a lot of sacrifice. Her mother took voluntary retirement from a reputed bank to support Bhakti chase her passion.

In Country like India, where Sports means only cricket and awareness about swimming is very low finding sponsors for swimming would be another challenging one. The Antarctica expedition cost her 30 lakhs. Her proud parents did not step back on hearing the amount. They took loans to train and fund her travel.

Here are my 8 reasons to vote and support “BHAKTI SHARMA.”  I believe she is truly a deserving one for JSW WILL OF STEEL award:

1. Breaking the world record for swimming in the Antarctic Ocean.
2. Youngest swimmer to swim in 4 oceans so far
3. Youngest swimmer to swim across 7 Seas so far
4. For her Plans to train 10 local girls from scratch and guide them in open water swimming. 
5. For setting Asian record - The first swim by a 3-member women’s relay team across the English Channel. (The three member team includes her mother Leena Sharma and her friend Priyanka Gehlot)
6. First mother and daughter pair to swim across the English Channel and setting up a world record. 
7. For taking a courageous journey in the adventurous water Sport.
8. Taking risk - There is a possibility of  dangerous sharks and animals in Oceans. Once she was preparing herself to get into sea, the expedition team spotted Leopard Seals exactly where she had to swim. So they decided to start the swim far away from the place. Though, this did not ensure that she would not be attacked by Leopard she went a head to swim. I salute her for the risk she took.

S- Sacrifice! T - Training !!E -Endurance!!!E- Effort!!! are the success mantra of Bhakti Sharma. She is not only a proud Indian but Proud steel of will too. 

Dear readers and Friends, If you are inspired by Bhakti Sharma and feel she should be recognized for her victory and hardwork please vote for Bhakti Sharma here

“I’m voting for Bhakti Sharma's  #WillOfSteel and blogging on BlogAdda to help her get felicitated and eventually enabled by JSW.