Passion for sport is all that matters, says Vijayawada-based swimmer who got selected for National Games

U. Premamrutha, a dedicated swimmer from Vijayawada, balances rigorous training, academics, and aspirations for Olympic success.

A day in the life of U. Premamrutha (17), a Vijayawada-based swimmer who has been selected for the National Games, includes waking up at 4.30 a.m., going for swimming training sessions, catching up with her missed school classes and going again for training.

Her routine does not have space for social media and other indulgences her generation is hooked to.

With the Class XII board exams coming up in March-April and her next competition in January-end, she hardly finds time for herself. But she does not feel exhausted or disappointed.

“I love being in water and am passionate about swimming. Though my grandparents felt a girl was not supposed be in the field of sports, I received immense support from my parents and sister,” Premamrutha says, adding that she does not like to miss her sessions even on days she is sick.

Her journey as a swimmer began when she was aged nine, in a 20-metre swimming pool. She remembers being overwhelmed by her fears and insecurities, but she could overcome them by determination. By the time she was 11, she participated in the Krishna river-cross competition organised by the Aqua Devils Welfare Association in Vijayawada.

In 2024, she received four gold medals at the 77th Senior State Aquatic Championship held at Bapatla and participated in the national tourney, four gold medals at the 40th Sub-Junior and 50th Junior State Aquatic Championships, and five gold medals in the South Zone State Aquatic Championship held in Visakhapatnam. All of them were either in the 50-metre or 100-metre categories and in butterfly and freestyle strokes (techniques).

She competed in the 35th South Zone National Aquatic Championship in Vijayawada and bagged a bronze, her first medal in the nationals, in the U-17 category. She completed the 50m butterfly competition in 31.97 seconds. Now, she is prepping for the National Games, organised by the Indian Olympics Association, scheduled to begin on January 29 to February 5 in Uttarakhand.