How India’s Bhavani Thekkada went from a coffee farm to chasing 2026 Winter Olympics dream
The 30-year-old grew up in southern India and is a long shot to qualify for the Milano-Cortina Games but wants to inspire others.
Bhavani Thekkada grew up on a coffee farm and did not see snow until she was 20. Now, she is chasing a place in next year’s Winter Olympics.
The 30-year-old started out with an interest in mountaineering “after watching some Bollywood movies”, and later qualified as an instructor in the Himalayas. It was there that she picked up alpine skiing.
And then she watched the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, where cross-country skier Marit Bjorgen, who had given birth just a couple of years before, became the most-decorated Winter Olympian.
“I’ve seen in the Indian community that ‘Women cannot do that. Once you have a baby, once you are 30-plus, you cannot do this,’” Thekkada said. “It really motivated me so much.”
Now, Thekkada is a cross-country skier, one who is trying to keep her own Olympic dream alive.
But, having grown up in southern India while her competitors grew up on skis, Thekkada is a little behind.