Rishi Shahani knows what he wants out of life: a chance to prove himself
by Pervin Das Gupta, Regional Manager, Organizational Development, for Special Olympics Asia Pacific
Many years ago, when Rishi Shahani of India was five, he was sitting at the side of a pool with his feet in the water. This was a routine, followed religiously by his family for more than eight months, to help Rishi overcome his fear of water and eventually become a swimmer both for enjoyment and good health.
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“We are indebted to this unique organization, Special Olympics, which encourages athletes to showcase their abilities and gives everyone a chance to participate.”
Aruna Shahani, mother of Special Olympics Bharat athlete Rishi |
On one of these routine days, his mother, Aruna, saw a young boy being manhandled by an elderly man in the pool. The incident occurred because the boy had been noisy, and the other children had moved away out of fear. She realized that the youngster had Down syndrome. Aruna Shahani thought of her son, and she shuddered at the way the world might react to him; it pained her to think of how poorly he may be treated for having Down syndrome. No, she thought. I am not going to allow that.
When Rishi was born with Down syndrome, the world had crashed for the Shahani family. There was shock, hurt, anger, guilt, fear and jealousy. As parents, they had to pull themselves together. There was a realization that the situation would not change; it was their way of looking at it that would have to change. Adversity had given way to strength.
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Rishi Shahani of Special Olympics Bharat (India). [Photo courtesy Special Olympics Bharat] |
With a lot of encouragement, swimming soon became Rishi's favorite sport. The Shahanis watched him progress slowly but confidently. He was determined and strong-willed. There were many challenges that Rishi had to overcome, and he faced them with enthusiasm and a positive attitude. Aruna Shahani credits Special Olympics for giving her son opportunities to see himself as a person with no set limits: “We are indebted to this unique organization, Special Olympics, which encourages athletes to showcase their abilities and gives everyone a chance to participate.”
In 1998, Shahani competed in state-level Games and Special Olympics Bharat (India) National Games and won gold, silver and bronze medals in aquatics. This boosted his confidence immensely and, in 1999, he competed in the Special Olympics World Summer Games in North Carolina, winning gold and silver medals in the freestyle swimming competition. In 2002, after training hard in another sport, badminton, he competed in the Special Olympics Bharat National Games, winning gold and silver medals. Rishi knows what he wants from life: a chance to prove himself, a chance to show that there is much more to him than just someone who has Down syndrome.
Prem Shahani, Rishi's father, said, “I thank Special Olympics, which is responsible for bringing this child from nowhere and helping him make a place, a niche, for himself. This task has been bumpy — very bumpy — but then the marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of its rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome.”
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