Harshini Brahmavar
Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Oct 11: He is all of just eight years, but already aspires to break his trainer's Guinness World Record in swimming. And going by the swift progress he has made, Ronnan Lewis is well on his way to achieve his dream.

Ronnan is being trained by Gopal Kharvi, who set the Guinness World Record in 2013 by swimming a distance of 3 km with his hands and legs bound in shackles.

Son of Roshan Lewis, a marketing executive at Dhruvi Enterprises and Shaila Lewis, a teacher, Ronnan studies in third standard at St Mary’s English Medium School, Kannarpady Udupi. He has a 6-year-old brother. Ronnan learnt swimming hardly four months ago at the district swimming pool in Ajjarkad.

Ronnan is the youngest among the swimmers who train at Ajjarkad swimming pool. Initially he could swim 20 rounds, but within a short span of time, he has become capable of swimming 40 rounds.

His father Roshan used to bring him to the Ajjarkad district pool everyday around 3 pm where he would swim for an hour in the 7 ft deep pool with the diving board placed 25 meters high. He now swims one-and-a-half kilometers freestyle effortlessly in just 40 minutes.

Ronnan Lewis is a multi-talented boy. He is good at skating, cycling, chess and carrom, and has keen interest in science and mathematics too.

Roshan wishes that his son enter the Limca and Guinness world records, but because of his young age, he cannot register his name online in the Guinness page. Recently, Smitha Thomas from London, one of the world record chamber committee members told him to upload the required details. The age limit for entry is 13 years and hence he needs to wait another five years.

Believe it or not, Ronnan used to feel scared of water, but gradually he overcame it and learnt swimming. He now wants to spend most of his time swimming, even during exam times.

Speaking to daijiworld, Ronnan said he aspires to become a good teacher and serve the society.

Roshan says, "I am always with him to make him happy and build up his strength, both physically and mentally."

Gopal Kharvi, who set the Guinness record by swimming from St Mary’s Island to Malpe beach with his hands and legs bound in iron cuffs, and who is also a three times state-level award winner, told daijiworld, "Ronnan is a blessed child. I have never seen such a talented boy. He has a good sporting spirit. At his age other kids are able to swim just half a round or one round. But this boy has incredible skills. He can hold his breath for many seconds. His respiratory system is strong."

Kharvi also mentioned that he trains students desiring to break the Guinness World Record free of cost. "If I can get sponsors from anywhere or a special grant from the government, I would like to continue achieving new feats in swimming," he said.

Gopal Kharvi plans to take Ronnan to St Mary’s Island, Malpe, but it will be risky at this age. He is definite of making this possible once Ronnan is ready for it.

Ronnan has mastered bubbling, dipping, floating, breathing control and different techniques of swimming. He is also being trained by another coach Chandrashekhar Rai.

Swimming has various strokes such as front crawl, backstroke, butterfly, breaststroke, sidestroke, dog paddle, elementary backstroke, kickswimming, treading water and so on. Competitions are held in backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and medley categories. Ronnan is now learning freestyle.

Here's wishing Ronnan all the best and hoping that he would bloom as a top swimmer from coastal Karnataka in time to come.