New Delhi, March 19: Nisha Millet is recognized as one of the most successful swimmers in the country. She has brought glory to India by winning medals in international competitions.
Born in Bengaluru on March 20, 1982, Nisha initially had a fear of water. At the age of five, she narrowly escaped drowning. Following this incident, her father, Aubrey, decided to teach her swimming to help her conquer her fear. In 1991, under her father’s guidance, she began her swimming journey at the Shenoy Nagar Club in Chennai.
What started as a way to overcome fear soon transformed into a passion for Nisha. She dedicated herself to swimming and won her first state-level medal in the 50-meter freestyle in 1992.
In 1994, while still a sub-junior, she shocked everyone by winning gold medals in all five freestyle events at the senior national level. That same year, she earned her first international medal at the Asian Age Group Championship in Hong Kong. Nisha represented India in several major tournaments, including the 1998 Asian Games and the World Championships in 1999 and 2004. She also won multiple medals at the Afro-Asian Games and the SAIF Games. Notably, she made history by winning 14 gold medals at the 1999 National Games.
During the 1999 South Asian Games held in Kathmandu, she clinched gold in the 50m, 100m, 200m, and 400m freestyle events, as well as in the 100m and 200m backstroke.
A significant milestone in her career was the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where she competed in the 200m freestyle, winning her heat with an impressive performance. However, she did not qualify for the semifinals. She became the first Indian female swimmer to achieve a B qualification time for the Olympics.
For 15 years, she held national records in the 200m and 400m freestyle. Additionally, she was the first Indian woman to break the one-minute barrier in the 100m freestyle.
Her career faced challenges after back surgery in 2002. She narrowly missed qualifying for the 2004 Olympics and, due to financial pressures, decided to retire from competitive swimming. Post-retirement, she runs a swimming academy in her name.
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