This real hero is training kids to be India's Phelps

Tridip Mandal / CNN-IBN

TimePublished on Fri, Mar 06, 2009 at 19:23 in India section

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New Delhi: Karsanbhai Patel has been training children of his village to swim in a local lake and he's been producing national champs, no less. He saw an opportunity where others saw only a dirty lake. For 28 years, There are no professional facilities, yet the children he trained have won medals at the national level.

Olympic Gold medallist Michael Phelps will probably never know about his popularity thousands of miles away in a tiny village of Pratapura, some 150 kms from Ahmedabad.

"Everyone is focused on cricket, but because of the lake, we are teaching them swimming. It will keep our childrenhealthy and sports can ensure a good future for the kids. I am also fond of swimming," says he.

It was his job as a teacher in the village school that brought Karsanbhai to Pratappura in 1978. A state level swimmer, Karsanbhai would hone his skills in the local Chandrasar lake.

The children watched on in awe and Karsanbhai asked them to join in. Twice a day this sleepy village sees 20 children head for the Chandrasar lake, their swimming pool. Its also the the only source of water.

It's this water that the village drinks, here is where they wash clothes and here is where the village children transform into champions, perfecting their strokes amongst turtles and snakes.

There are no fancy changing rooms for these children and in winters, the chilling waters don't deter the young swimmers. Money is tight and with whatever donations Karsanbhai gets, he tries to buy swimming equipment for the children.

"The children here are from poor families. The swimming costume for girls is really expensive. They don't have slippers. If we got all this, the children would perform better," says he.

Despite the hardships, over 200 children from the village have participated at the state level and 45 have made it to the nationals.

As Karsanbhai and his little prodigies walk through the dry arid land of this mini Rann of Kutch, they don't let their disadvantages cloud their aspirations. They have got a dream, a dream to swim their way to international glory, a dream to be the next Michael Phelps of India.