Arjun Muralidharan

Arjun Muralidharan (born 14 May 1987) is an Indian swimmer who has earned 15 National Titles. He is widely considered as one of the greatest butterfly swimmers of India. He has also been the best swimmer in three consecutive Open National Championships from 2004–2006 and held all three (50, 100, 200 m) butterfly National titles for four years from 2004-2007 as well as all three (50, 100, 200 m) backstroke National titles in the year 2006. In 2006 he became the first Indian swimmer to win a gold medal at a foreign national championship in the Speedo Eastern Canadian Championships held at Montreal. He is also the first Indian swimmer to win a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games held at Bendigo, Australia, in 2004 and a silver medal in the Asian Indoor Games held at Bangkok in 2005. In the 2006 Asian Games held at Doha, Qatar, Arjun smashed his own national record in the 100 m butterfly. Arjun has won several Canadian National Championship medals and a gold medal in the 200 m butterfly at Canada Cup 2008.

Arjun Muralidharan

Arjun at the 2006 South Asian Games
Personal information
Nickname(s)	The Beast
Nationality	India
Born	(1987-05-14) 14 May 1987 Maharashtra, India
Residence	Pune
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	89 kg (196 lb)
Website	http://bluewaterswimming.com
Sport
Country	India
Sport	Swimming
Event(s)	Butterfly
Club	Bluewater Swimming
Turned pro	1995
Coached by	CDR G Muralidharan, Byron MacDonald, John Grootveld, Sean Kelly, Nicholas Perron, Otto Kovacs, Amar Muralidharan
Achievements and titles
Highest world ranking	(2006-2008) World 47, Canada 3 (200 Butterfly)
Medal record Men's swimming Representing  India Commonwealth Youth Games 2004 Bendigo 200 m Butterfly Asian Indoor Games 2005 Bangkok 200 m Butterfly Speedo Eastern Canadian Nationals 2006 Montreal 100 m Butterfly Manchester Open 2007 Manchester England 200 m Butterfly Canada Cup 2008 Montreal 200 m Butterfly

Early Life & Career Biography

Born in Pune, Maharashtra, India Arjun started swimming at the age of 5 coached by his father G Muralidharan a former athlete, Ranji Trophy cricketer and Commander, Indian Navy. At a very young age of 9 he had already broken the age group national record in 50 meters butterfly. Arjun, the younger brother of Amar Muralidharan, is a former police officer working at the Border Security Force since 2002 up until 2014 under the sports recruitment program. He was also awarded the Director Generals citation in 2006 for his sporting achievements. He has trained in United Kingdom and Canada from 2006 to 2010 under reputed coaches. He has swum for Rouge et Or swimming team in Quebec in 2006, Stockport Metro Swimming Club in 2007 and Toronto Swim Club from 2008-2010.

1996

Broke the Sub Junior Nationals Record held at Jaipur India in 50 meters Butterfly in the under 9 Age group with a time of 34.60 sec. The record still stands.

2000

Was adjudged the best swimmer in the 17th Sub-junior aquatics championships held at Barielly India with 5 gold medals.[1]

2002

After a 6-month training camp conducted by Sports Authority of India in New Delhi, India under Hungarian coach Otto Kovacs Arjun was adjudged the best swimmer in the Junior national aquatic championships held at Chennai India winning 5 gold medals and 3 junior national records.[2]

Along with his brother Amar, Arjun participated in the national Open water 10 km endurance swim race held at Pune finishing second with a time of 1 hour 4 mins and 55 seconds.[3]

2004

Became the youngest ever best swimmer at the age of 16 in the 58th Senior National aquatic championships held at New Delhi India. Arjun broke 3 championship records in the meet and won 3 gold medals and 2 silvers.[4] His older brother Amar broke the championship record in the 200 meters Freestyle clocking 1:58.03. Arjun also became the youngest ever best swimmer at the All India Police Aquatic Championships held at New Delhi in September 2004.[5]

Based on his performances in the Senior Nationals Arjun was selected to represent India at the Commonwealth Youth Games which was held at Bendigo Australia in Dec 2004. Arjun became the first and only Indian to win a medal coming third in the 200 meters Butterfly with a time of 2:06.99 beating teammate Rehan Poncha by .02 secs.[6][7]

Arjun became the first and only swimmer in Indian swimming history to win the junior and senior national best swimmer trophies in the same year.

Became the best swimmer at the 53rd All India Police Aquatic Championships held at Talkatora Complex, New Delhi[8]

2005

In 2005 at the 1st Asian Indoor Games held from 13 to 17 November 2005 at the SAT Swimming Pool, Huamark Sports Complex in Bangkok, Thailand Arjun became the first Indian swimmer to win a silver medal in the 200 meters butterfly event clocking 2:03.33 behind Won Jae-Yun of Korea.

Participating in the World Police and Fire Games in Quebec, Arjun beat the 20-year-old 100 m butterfly Indian best set by Khazan Singh, clocking 56.74 seconds to wipe out Singh's 1985 record of 56.84.[9][10]

In 2005 Open National Championships Arjun became the first Indian swimmer to break the 28-second barrier in the 50 m backstroke clocking a national record time of 27.97.[11] He was also judged the Best Swimmer of the meet with 4 gold medals.[12][13]

2006

Training in Quebec under the aegis of Sports Authority of India and the central government, Arjun along with elder brother Amar, participated under the banner of Laval University in the Speedo Eastern Canadian swimming championships held from 16–19 February in Montreal. Arjun won the gold in the 100 m butterfly event with the best-ever Indian performance of 0:56.20 seconds. The effort eclipsed his own mark of 56.74.

Arjun participated in the Commonwealth Games held in Melbourne Australia from 15–26 March 2006 and became the first ever Indian swimmer to qualify for semifinals in the 100 meters butterfly clocking 56.74 in the heats and 56.65 in the semifinals.[14]

In the 2006 Open Nationals held at BAC, Bangalore, Arjun smashed all five national records and won the Best Swimmer for the third consecutive year with five gold medals.[15][16] Arjun became the first and only Indian swimmer to win all 3 backstroke national titles with championship records simultaneously. This was the first and the last time Arjun swam the 200 M Backstroke.[17][18][19]

In the 2006 South Asian Games held at Colombo, Sri Lanka, Arjun won three golds and a silver with a Games record in 200 m butterfly.[20]

In the 2006 Asian Games held at Doha, Qatar, Arjun smashed his own national record in the 100 m butterfly with a time of 56.16 placing 13th overall ahead of teammate Ankur Poseria who placed 18th clocking 57.14.

2007

After a 7-month training camp in Stockport United Kingdom training under British Olympic coach Sean Kelly Arjun became the first and only Indian swimmer to win all 3 butterfly national titles with championship records simultaneously in the 2007 Senior National aquatic championships held at Goa India.[21][22]

2008

Arjun trained at Toronto Swim club under former Munich Olympics 100 M Butterfly finalist Byron MacDonald and John Grootveld head coach at TSC.

In 2008 Quebec Cup held at Montreal Quebec Arjun became the first and only Indian swimmer to win a gold medal at a foreign long course National Championship in the 200 meters butterfly clocking a personal best of 2:02.57.[23]

In 2008 Canada Cup Arjun won a bronze medal and broke the short course 200 butterfly national record clocking 1:59.45 and becoming the first Indian swimmer to break the 2 mins barrier in the event. The record still stands.[24]

In 2008 October Arjun bettered several records in the All India Police meet becoming the Best Swimmer for the 6th time in a row.[25]

Injury and return to swimming in 2009

On 17 January 2009 in Toronto Canada while heading towards Etobicoke swimming pool for a divisional competition Arjun suffered a jaw fracture from a car accident when his car was hit by an oncoming truck. He was treated at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto and subsequently returned to India for a few months. He returned to Toronto Canada and resumed swimming training late in July which affected his performances at the 2009 Open Nationals due to the long 6-month layoff and fracture rehabilitation process.

2010

In 2010 South Asian Games Arjun won a gold medal in the 100 m butterfly.[26]

Arjun also participated in the 2010 Commonwealth Games held at New Delhi India swimming the 50 and 100 meters butterfly events.[27]

2011

Was adjudged the best swimmer for the 7th time in his career in the All India Police Aquatic Championships held at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala with 5 gold medals and 2 meet records.[28]

2012

Participated in the 2012 Life Saving World Championships held at Adelaide, Australia.

Personal life

In addition to all his swimming accomplishments Arjun also trains in Martial Arts and is a 1st dan (shodan) black belt in Gōjū-ryū Karate and a first kyu brown belt in Shidokan.

In his spare time he coaches young children at Bluewater Swim Academy alongside his father and older brother at Pune.

He has endorsed sportswear company Metal Mulisha and is also sponsored by Siddhi Health Club located at Kothrud, Pune where he has done his strength training since 2002.

References

1. "Shruti, Arjun bag sub-junior honors". Indian Express. 1 July 2000. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
2. "Karnataka reigns supreme". The Hindu. 21 June 2002. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
3. "Muralidharan bros blaze the lake". Times of India. 14 November 2002. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
4. "Rana signs off in style". The Hindu. 10 October 2004. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
5. "Muralidharan sets record". The Tribune. 8 September 2004. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
6. "Arjun wins bronze in Australia". The Times of India. 30 December 2004. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
7. "Commonwealth Youth Games - Swimming". Commonwealth Youth Games. 30 December 2004. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
8. "Muralidharan Brothers Dominate". The Hindu. 8 September 2004. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
9. "Arjun strikes gold, attains new high". The Times of India. 22 February 2006. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
10. "Arjun digs into Singh's Khazana". The Times of India. 31 July 2005. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
11. Rayan, Stan (18 December 2005). "Sport : Arjun serves a stunner". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
12. Rayan, Stan (19 December 2005). "Sport : Karnataka stays overall champion". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
13. Stan Rayan (7–13 January 2006). "Awesome THREESOME (Arjun Muralidharan... a class act)". Sportstar. Vol. 29 no. 1. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
14. "Biography - Muralidharan Arjun". 15 March 2006. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
15. Ashok, Kalyan (26 September 2006). "Sport : Arjun, Richa are the best". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
16. "Sport: Arjun Muralidharan and Richa Mishra bag best swimmer titles". OneIndia news. 25 September 2006. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
17. Ashok, Kalyan (25 September 2006). "Sport : Arjun makes a splash in the pool". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
18. Jawali, Madhu (25 September 2006). "Sport : Arjun makes waves". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
19. "Sport : Arjun Muralidharan creates new meet record". Onenews India. 21 September 2006. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
20. Krishnan, Ram. Murali (24 August 2006). "India reigns supreme in South Asian Games". SwimNews.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
21. "Sport : Arjun Muralidharan sinks 200m mark". The Hindu. 23 September 2007. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
22. "Sport : Arjun and Richa take their turn". Goswim India. 27 September 2007. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
23. "Men's 200m Butterfly Finals Results". Swimming Canada. 24 June 2008. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
24. "Men's 200m Butterfly Finals Results". Swimming Canada. 30 November 2008. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
25. "Sport : Arjun and Amar Muralidharan shine". The Hindu. 22 October 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
26. "South Asian Games: Swimming at 11th SAG, 2010". South Asian Games. 5 February 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
27. Swimming at the 2010 Commonwealth Games - Men's 100 metre butterfly
28. "BSF Inches Closer". The Hindu. 23 October 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2014.

External links

• Arjun Muralidharan on Facebook