Meet a Dubai student who has won gold in open water swimming competitions

From a tender age of four, Krithyaa took to the swimming pool like a fish to water. Recognising her passion, her parents enrolled her for professional training, and by the age of seven, she was swimming for over two hours daily.

She started competing in pool races at the age of 4 and in open water at the age of 14. The first open water international event she won was the 10km in Greece in 2022 where she was the youngest competitor in the race. ‘It was my first gold in open water and my second competitive 10k,’ recollects Krithyaa. ‘This race made me realise that if I could do this much at the age of 15, I can continue to do a lot more with perseverance and training.’

A few of her other prominent open water accolades include first place in the King and Queen swim, and first place for two continuous years in La Mer 3.2 km swim and third place in the Thailand 10k Asian championship.

A Year 13 student at DIA, Emirates Hills, she asserts that Open Water is a sport in which you have no control over the conditions, instead, you compose yourself mentally for the swim. ‘The night before swims, I am usually nervous, but I always keep in mind that in 24 hours, it will be over, and I will feel great. In a sense, Open water is a very lonely sport as there is no team on stands cheering you on, or no lane lines or lights to illuminate the way; it is just you and the ocean and you have to be your own, pushing yourself to the finish line.’

Being an open water swimmer has taught Krithyaa how to quickly adapt to situations and find ways out of scenarios, even if it is uncomfortable or unsure. It has enabled her to be mentally strong to make good decisions, and helped her balance her daily life with school, extra classes, gym, daily swimming as well as spending time with her family.

One of the most challenging incidents was during the Asian championships in Thailand in 2022. The race was during sea lice (jelly fish larvae) season. ‘Halfway through the race it began to rain. I kept the island in my sight and kept going. If I stopped for even 10 seconds, I was stung by sea lice,’ she says. ‘When I got to the 3.8k mark, there was a strong current and I couldn’t move for about 30 minutes. When I finally reached the island, I saw the most beautiful reef full of vibrant fish and organisms. That race tested me mentally and physically because I went out of my comfort zone and pushed myself more than I ever thought I could.’

She credits SwimTribe, a Dubai based swimming club that regularly practices in the open water, for her achievements.

As a self-confessed aquaphile, Krithyaa has planned to set a world record and swim a 30 km open water swim in September this year.

As for a career, the teenager aims to be a veterinarian and earn a Master’s in marine biology. ‘I want to work at rehabilitation centers for marine life and help with all aspects of the marine world while maintaining my Open Water swimming as well,’ she says.