In the 1998 Winter Olympics, alongside the contingents from other countries, marched the sole representative from India, with a borrowed sled, plastic shoes and an ill-designed uniform – alone, with pride, holding the tricolour high. Shiva Keshavan, who grew up in the snow-peaked hills of Manali was only 16 – the youngest luge player at the Olympics so far – yet his resolve to make his country proud stood out as he marched alone, announcing to everyone at the Winter Olympics, that though not in numbers, India was indeed present – in the unmatched spirit of Shiva.
Born on August 25, 1981, in Manali, Himachal Pradesh, Shiva grew up in the Himalayan mountains – an environment where snow and ice are part of everyday life. His path to luge began in an unusual way: at school, he was sent to a sledding/winter camp which, contrary to expectations, included luge training. His talent became apparent early on, and with the support of Austrian Günther Lemmerer, he gained access to training methods that would otherwise have been virtually impossible in India. At the age of 16, he qualified for the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano (JAP), becoming the youngest male luger in the history of the Games.
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. Shiva story is one of overcoming adversity and a lone struggle against the odds to achieve a seemingly impossible dream. He has proved that there is potential for winter sports in India.
Shiva has given more than 20 years of this life to the sport. He was won 2 Golds, 4 silvers and 2 bronze medals at Asia Luge Cup! And, in December 2016, along with the Gold medal at Asian Championship, he established himself as the fastest luger in Asia with a record speed of 134.3 km/h! He has competed in 6 Olympic Games in his career.
A few events stand out in our career which show his deep love and affection for India –
- He refused to abandon Indian citizenship when he was offered Italian citizenship along with the best resources and training facilities, in turn for representing Italy.
- Another noteworthy event of his career was at the conclusion of 1998 Winter Olympics. Long after his Luge event had concluded, where he didn’t win any medal, he stayed back at the Olympic village to carry the Indian flag at the closing ceremony. He said that if he didn’t stay back, Indian flag would have not fluttered that day. There was almost no media coverage for this brave act. But, Shiva’s never been worried about acknowledgement. His love for his sport and for representing his country are satisfying rewards.
Shiva Keshavan, India’s only six-time Winter Olympian, has returned to his sporting roots as ski mountaineering makes its Olympic debut in Italy. The 44-year-old, now serves as Head of Sports and Events at the International Ski Mountaineering Federation and is overseeing the sport’s introduction at the Winter Olympics 2026. He is the only Indian in the organising cohort.
References –
https://www.olympics.com/hi/video/shiva-keshavan-the-olympic-luger-from-the-himalayas
https://www.impactguru.com/fundraiser/shiva-keshavan
https://www.fil-luge.org/en/news/shiva-keshavan-india-s-luge-pioneer-with-an-iron-will
