Know your Olympian: 'Fit guy' Vishnu Saravanan's favourite Olympic memory to strict diet
Vishnu Sarvanan, the laser standard class sailor, is the youngest member of the Indian sailing contingent for Tokyo 2020.
Mumbai-based sailor Vishnu Saravanan will be carrying the legacy of his family to the Olympics in Tokyo 2020. His father Ramachandran Saravanan, a former Madras Sappers Sailor, failed to pursue his sailing career while his sister Ramya, sailing in laser radial class, couldn't make the cut for Tokyo 2020.
The young Vishnu, at 22, is thus the most accomplished sailor in his family. It is a big achievement not only for him but also his family as his father had introduced him to the discipline at the age of nine. And since then, he has been consistently in touch with water.
And though Vishnu considers Tokyo 2020 as just a start to his Olympic career, it was at London 2012, that he was moved by the performance of Cypriot athlete Pavlos Kontides in the men's laser event. The sailor from Cyprus was, in fact, the first from his country to win a medal (silver) at the Olympics.
"I've trained with and spoken to him (Pavlos Kontides). Watching him win the silver medal at London 2012 motivated me," Vishnu told Olympics.com.
Vishnu, who also played sports like tennis and was selected for junior nationals in javelin, believes that fitness is a way of life for him. However, a physical sport like sailing, where he needs to sit on the edge of the boat while leaning the torso at a difficult angle, has tested his endurance to the hilt.
“If you can hold a plank for 50 minutes, you will be okay,” he told livemint.
The Subedar at Indian Army also believes his discipline puts a lot of pressure on legs, core, back and arms. He, thus, pays special attention to maintain his stamina as the effort required on Day 6 of an event could be the same as Day 1.
Moreover, sailors burn at least 3000 calories per day and as a result he intakes double of it everyday, through his five course meal. He keeps away from sweets while following a strict diet plan, months before an event, but staying away from chocolate has been a bit of a challenge for him.
"I love chocolates but before the events, I stop. It is not easy to do so. But I haven't had it for months now," he had told Olympics.com.
He reached Tokyo from his training base in Malta, where he is training under coach Alexandr Denisiuc and mentor Trevor Millar, founder of the Sail Coach Academy.
When will Vishnu Saravanan's Tokyo 2020 campaign begin?
Saravanan will be in action on July 25, Sunday, in the men's laser standard Race 1 event.