I did not run when I was able-bodied, said international athlete and blade runner Shalini Saraswathi, who holds the Asian record for being the fastest woman on blades (T62 category). She was sharing her inspiring life story at THE WEEK’s Best Hospitals 2024 event in Hyderabad.
Shalini’s life took a dramatic turn in 2012 when she contracted a rare bacterial infection that brought her dangerously close to death. “I was in a coma and given just a three per cent chance of survival. Until then, I was an able-bodied person. I vividly remember the doctors warning me that I might lose all my limbs, but at the time, it felt like an impossibility. You hold on to hope, thinking that something—some miracle—will intervene and prevent the worst,” she recalled.
However, over the next two years, Shalini faced the gradual and heartbreaking reality of losing her limbs, one by one. “First, I lost one arm, then the other. Once I had lost both hands, it became clear that waiting for a change wasn’t an option anymore. In September 2013, I made the decision to amputate both my legs,” she shared.
Reflecting on her journey, Shalini humorously admitted, “I didn’t have a single athletic bone in my body, and neither does my family. We are artists, singers, musicians—everything but athletes. The only time I played sports was in school, where I joined the volleyball team because, at our all-girls school, it was the only way to meet boys.”
Initially, Shalini took up running to maintain fitness and improve her general health. Over time, however, it evolved into passion and a drive to excel. She shared the extraordinary effort it took to become an international athlete. “It took me 10 years to get to the Asian Games—10 years of waking up every single day at 5 am, working out six days a week, strengthening my body, and constantly pushing its limits. It meant giving up alcohol and making every life decision based on whether it would affect my performance. Success, I believe, is not just about high IQ or talent. It is about grit,” she said.
In addition to being an international athlete and blade runner, Shalini is now a passionate advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities. She is also a motivational speaker and serves as chief of strategy and implementation at Rise Bionics, a firm that produces a wide range of assistive devices.
Shalini received a standing ovation at THE WEEK’s Best Hospitals 2024 event, a testament to her incredible resilience and inspiring journey.
