Amidst the glorious chaos of India’s most successful Olympics ever in Paris 2024, it was easy for some achievements to get overlooked in the clamor of the moment. But as the dust settles and the euphoria levels out, it’s time we give due praise to one of those nearly forgotten triumphs – Swapnil Kusale’s bronze medal in 50m 3 Positions men’s rifle shooting. A historic first for India in this highly technical discipline, won by a 28-year-old unassuming shooter who wasn’t on most radars, it’s a medal that deserves far more than just a passing mention.
Swapnil Kusale: India’s Steady Shooting Star
So who is this Swapnil Kusale, the man who etched a new chapter in India’s Olympic shooting history? Hailing from Maharashtra, a state with a rich tradition of producing rifle shooting champions, the 28-year-old Kusale was the lone Indian to make the 50m 3P final in Paris. At a relatively ripe age by shooting standards, most didn’t have the steady, composed Kusale on their medal radars.
But Paris 2024 was Kusale’s magnum opus moment. The 50m 3P event, with the challenging format of shooting in three positions – kneeling, prone and standing – at a distance of 50m (that’s one and a half times an Olympic pool’s length), is considered the toughest test of a rifle shooter’s abilities and mental toughness. And Kusale aced his greatest test when it mattered most, in his first Olympics.
Persistence & Mental Strength: Kusale’s Keys to Success
Things didn’t start too well for Kusale in the 8-man final. He was 6th after the kneeling position series, moved up to 5th after prone, but still not in realistic medal contention. It was then, in the standing position elimination stage – the most unstable and nerve-wracking of all three with its minimal body support – that Kusale’s persistence and mental strength came to the fore.
Shot after shot, despite some low 9-pointers threatening his progress, Kusale held his nerve, trusting in his technique and hours of training. In a twist of irony, it was in the standing stage at the 2023 Asian Games where one poor shot had cost him a sure-shot gold medal. But Paris was to be Kusale’s redemption story, as he overcame the demons of that disappointment to assure himself an Olympic medal on the sport’s grandest stage.
The wait was worth it. Every day of training, every sacrifice, every missed family occasion – it all feels worth it now. I can’t describe what this medal means to me.
– Swapnil Kusale after his bronze medal win
Making History, Inspiring the Future
Kusale’s bronze is historic for multiple reasons:
- India’s first medal in 50m 3 Positions men’s rifle
- India’s only shooting medal at Paris 2024
- Won at age 28, on Olympic debut, with the weight of a nation’s hopes
It’s these factors that make Kusale’s achievement even more special. He not only held his nerve on the biggest day of his career, but also ended India’s drought in an event that is the truest test of a shooter’s all-round abilities. For India’s upcoming rifle shooters, Kusale’s is the ideal template for achieving Olympic success.
A Muted Celebration for a Massive Achievement
In the immediate aftermath of his bronze, Kusale’s celebrations were understandably muted. With a poker face giving away little emotion, he perhaps rued missing silver by a miniscule 0.5 points. But soon the magnitude of the moment hit him, as the smiles returned during the Olympic podium ceremony.
Kusale’s medal may have gotten overshadowed amidst the many heartbreaks and few euphoric Indian triumphs on that dramatic day in Paris. With shooters like Manu Bhaker winning two medals and the likes of PV Sindhu falling short, it was an emotional rollercoaster for Indian fans. But in that, Swapnil Kusale’s bronze was the steady, historic success that demanded much more than the passing attention it got.
Conclusion: Kusale’s Legacy & the Future of Indian Shooting
Swapnil Kusale’s story is one of perseverance, redemption and long-overdue success. It’s the classic underdog tale of a little-known athlete, in one of the toughest Olympic shooting disciplines, overcoming disappointment to stand on the Olympic podium at a ripe age, becoming the first Indian to win that medal.
It’s a success that needs to be cherished by India’s shooting fraternity for the template it sets for future champions. Steady, persistent and unfazed by challenges – if India’s new crop of shooters can imbibe the key qualities behind Kusale’s bronze, the future could be bright for a sport that has promised much but often underdelivered at the Olympics.
For now, let’s doff our hats to Swapnil Kusale, the unassuming man with the poker face who battled past disappointment to deliver a historic medal that almost got lost in India’s Olympic chaos. He may prefer to stay under the radar, but his legacy is one that deserves to be remembered by Indian Olympic followers. Take a bow, Swapnil Kusale, for teaching us the true meaning of perseverance.
