Shiva Keshavan

The world’s youngest person to qualify for the Olympic games in Luge, Shiva Keshavan is the first Indian to have won an international medal in any winter sport. Shiva has represented India for over 24 years and competed in 6 Olympic Games and won 10 individual medals at the Asian level and is the ‘Fastest Indian on Ice’
Shiva’s story began in a remote Himalayan village, Vashisht, at 2500 mts. in altitude where despite the lack of basic infrastructure or sport facilities he rose to compete in the highest level of international sport.

Shiva’s talent was spotted by Gunther Lemmerer, former World Champion and head coach of the International Luge Federation who gave Shiva a chance to compete at a world stage.

The news of an athlete from India competing with a homemade set of equipment, no coach or track to train on and no funding or from the sports federation was instantly picked up by media all around the world.

These were not the only obstacles Shiva had to overcome to become the most decorated and recognizable face in Winter Sports in India, a country of almost 1.5 Billion people.

Shiva story is one of overcoming adversity and a lone struggle against the odds to achieve a seemingly impossible dream.

In 2014 Shiva became the founder-president of the Olympians Association of India and is committed to support the Olympic movement in India. Olympic Channel has made a documentary on him and his 2014 Sochi Olympics suit has been kept in Olympic Museum.

Shiva now aims at promoting Winter Games in India, and creating an ecosystem to produce more athletes competing at the highest level. A Motivational speaker, in the past Shiva has spoken at UEFA and is a regular speaker at Deloitte.

To support Shiva Keshavan or to invite him as a motivational speaker pls write to us on: info@sportwiseindia.com